Kitchener working on solutions to pothole problem
Posted Mar 5, 2026 05:19:00 AM.
Last Updated Mar 5, 2026 11:09:49 AM.
Many Kitchener roadways are in poor condition after a long and cold winter, and with thawing in the forecast, city crews are working to try to keep up with deteriorating conditions.
In Kitchener, staff are responsible for maintaining the condition of city-owned streets and regional roads.
Staff and council have received a long list of complaints from residents over the past month, and are working to understand the pothole problem as a whole in order to find a solution.
One of the difficulties in repairing the roads at this time of year is the change in seasons.
“At this time of the year, it’s particularly challenging because we can’t do permanent repairs on the road, the hot asphalt plants are not open yet, it’s still too cold for that,” said Denise McGoldrick, general manager of Infrastructure Services for the City of Kitchener.
Many of Waterloo Region’s asphalt manufacturers operate from May until December.
Instead, crews have to use cold patches instead, often in less-than-ideal conditions because the surface is wet, according to McGoldrick. She added that those fixes often last only a few days before additional repair is required.
“I have had an inordinate number of claims come my way that are being forwarded to the insurance pool and so on,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “Whether we pay one way or the other potentially, I’d rather pay to try and address (potholes) as best as we can.”
City staff acknowledged that funding for the road resurfacing program was “reduced slightly” in the past decade, but Justin Readman, general manager for Development Services, doesn’t believe there is a direct correlation between the funding cuts and the state of Kitchener roads.
Staff are set to include pothole maintenance as part of their wider review of winter maintenance operations, a review which was prompted to improve the city’s response to snow and storms after a challenging season.
To report a pothole in Kitchener, you can visit the city’s website.
