Langley Township road crews are already watching for potholes as almost two weeks of freezing weather recedes, leaving behind some fresh damage on local streets.
Aaron Ruhl, the Township's director of engineering and public works, said that potholes are often caused by a freeze-thaw cycle, and he's hoping that with temperatures being quite cold since the start of February, the damage won't be too bad.
The freeze-thaw cycle is damaging to roads because water gets into small cracks on the roads, freezes and expands into ice, and widens those cracks. Multiple days of freezing and thawing can cause serious damage and widen cracks that develop into potholes.
However, crews have already been working to patch those they've found, now that the snow has been mostly cleared away, Ruhl said.
When potholes emerge in the winter, crews use a cold asphalt mix to create a quick, temporary fix.
Cold asphalt isn't as durable as hot asphalt, however.
"It will get you a couple days, weeks, months," Ruhl said.
How long it lasts depends on a number of factors, including the weather at the time the cold asphalt is laid down, and the amount of traffic that is going to keep hitting that spot.
A pothole on busy 200 Street might see its temporary patch quickly eroded by cars, while one on a quiet rural road might last through until spring.
Once the weather is better, crews will be using hot mixed asphalt for more permanent repairs.
Anyone who sees a significant pothole on their street or commute can report it online at tol.ca/pothole or by calling the Township at 604-532-7300.
