(Photo: Submitted by Shannon Douthwright)
Moncton has endured a rough winter with numerous freeze and thaw cycles creating lots of potholes on city streets.
Given the sheer number of potholes that have appeared this spring, a Moncton councillor has described driving in the city as an obstacle course.
Charles Leger has expressed his frustration to the public works department about bad areas like Archibald Street and along University Avenue in front of the Georges Dumont Hospital.
“Because we don’t pay the bill… so somebody blows out their front end… and sends the bill to the city solicitor, we’re not going to pay,” Leger notes.
Public Works director Don Morehouse says he understands the frustration but noted how the city can’t begin patching the streets until the asphalt plants open in early May.
Councillor Paul Pellerin suggested the city buy its own asphalt plant but staff say that could be a costly proposition.
Pellerin wonders if there is any point to patching all the potholes.
“If we are not going to be repairing the structural component of the road and just filling up a crack and letting it fill up with water again, I think we’re wasting a significant amount of time,” says Pellerin.
Councillor Brian Hicks says the city really needs to take another look at its approach to patching the streets.
“This is a serious problem and there is so much damage being done to vehicles. We all get emails about this,” Hicks says.
The City of Moncton will be receiving an extra $5 million in funding this year from the federal gas tax which is slated to be used for street repairs.
