Potholes usually occur in the spring when frost develops and snow is melting. Residents are warned to be careful when going through puddles because they can hide potholes. The Town does not repair potholes in driveways and private parking lots.
Specific to potholes, the minimum maintenance standard sets out the tolerances pertaining to the maximum size (area) and depth a pothole can be before a repair is required. It also sets out the amount of time that is allowed to pass before the repair must be completed and that varies based on the amount of traffic that occurs on that particular road. The standard ranges from 4 days for heavily travelled roads to 30 days for roads with lesser amounts of traffic.
What We Do
- Regularly patrol streets to identify potholes and other road deficiencies; but potholes can develop daily when temperatures begin to hover around zero degrees;
- Repair potholes and other road deficiencies. For potholes, crews often repair isolated potholes with ‘cold mix’ which is a more pliable mix of asphalt that enables it to be shovelled and placed in the hole. This may appear messy compared to hot mix asphalt, but cold mix material does become more consolidated in a short period of time as traffic helps to compact it to the existing road surface;
- Maintain Town roads accordance with legislated requirements (O. Reg. 239/02, as amended); and
- Inspect bridges in accordance to Ministry of Transportation of Ontario’s guidelines and maintain / repair as required.
To report a Pothole, Contact Us at:
Online: Report a Problem
Phone: 705-687-3412, when the Directory message starts - press 5, then 1, or extension 2261
Complaints are addressed on a priority and scheduling basis and in accordance with legislated standards.
Did You Know?
Potholes are formed when:
- Water seeps into cracks in the pavement
- The water builds up and softens the ground under the road
- The water freezes and expands, which pushes the pavement up
- When the water under the pavement dries, a hole is left beneath the road
- The pavement is now weakened. As soon as a car drives over this area, the pavement collapses, leaving a pothole
Damage Claims
If a person is looking to submit a claim for damages, he/she is required to submit the claim in writing to the Town. Prior to contacting the Town, you are required to contact your insurance company to report the incident. Once you have contacted your insurance company, submit your claim in writing and include the following information:
- Contact information (name, address, phone number(s), email)
- Insurance company and policy number
- Day the damage occurred
- Time of day the damage occurred
- Location of the pothole that damaged the vehicle was on
- A landmark to identify the location of the pothole
- Description of incident
- Direction travelled
- Pictures of the damage incurred
- Witness contact name and contact information, if any
- Documentation substantiating the cost of repairs, if available
Send claim to:
Mail or In Person: Town of Gravenhurst, Attention Legislative Services, 3-5 Pineridge Gate, Gravenhurst, ON. P1P 1Z3
Email: ghclaims@gravenhurst.ca
Your information will then be forwarded to our insurance adjusters for review.
Please note: where roads meet the minimum maintenance standards as set out by the Ontario government, the Town of Gravenhurst has no obligation to process a claim.