As kids we grew up learning about five seasons: spring, summer, fall, winter and pothole season. Every year, wild potholes emerge from beneath our industrial landscape, wreaking havoc on rims, tires and buses. Potholes don’t discriminate, but they certainly cause accidents.
How do they form? As a seasoned Cape Bretonologist with expertise in Pothole Science, let’s break it down.
Potholes begin with natural cracks in asphalt (or concrete), usually caused by wear, tear and neglect. Once a crack appears, water seeps in and settles beneath the surface.
Here’s the kicker, it’s winter!
During winter, the ground freezes and gradually thaws over several months, causing it to shift. And the water? It seeps into the frozen ground, forcing the surface to rise slightly before the thaw. This cycle is what ultimately creates our wild potholes.
To prevent potholes, we need to keep a close watch on our roads. Like a doctor detecting early symptoms, proactive maintenance helps avoid bigger issues down the road (no pun intended). Crack sealing is a basic, yet essential, practice that should be regularly carried out across the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, including on provincial roads.
Additionally, the way we patch potholes needs improvement. Simply dumping asphalt into the hole doesn’t fix the problem; it often makes it worse. The pothole must be properly cleaned, compacted and shaped to ensure a lasting repair.
The story?
Let’s take our roads more seriously. Cars need to be safe to drive so roads should be safe to drive on.