City of Saskatoon bringing on extra workers to tackle potholes, with more than 3,700 reported

The City of Saskatoon says it has brought on some extra workers and contractors to help repair potholes.

The city had to push back the start of its pothole repair blitz this year due to the late-season snowfall that put a damper on the start of spring, but the city said workers have already used nearly 400 tonnes of hot-mix asphalt to fix potholes since the start of May.

The extra workers are expected to start on Monday, with thousands of potholes reported around the city to repair.

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“In colder weather, we use gravel or recycling asphalt for temporary repairs, while hot-mix during warmer weather allows us to make more permanent repairs to maintain safety and provide a smoother ride on Saskatoon streets,” Cam LeClaire, the city’s roadways manager, said in a statement.

The city said it prioritizes fixing potholes in driving lanes on high-traffic streets, where they might impact mobility and safety. After the highest-priority routes are patched up, the workers will return to fix potholes near curbs, in parking lanes and on lower-priority streets.

More than 3,700 potholes have been reported by citizens using the city’s online map, which the city said represents “an increase of more than 2,000 potholes compared to the same period in 2025.”

“Potholes confirmed as emergencies are marked as High Priority on the online map and are addressed within 24 to 72 hours, weather permitting,” the city added.

“Non-emergency pothole repairs are part of planned maintenance programs, ensuring the road network’s longevity while prioritizing citizen safety and mobility.”

The city noted that issues with potholes are common in cities with climates like Saskatoon’s, as moisture can enter small cracks in the pavement and expand upon freezing, breaking apart the road surface, and the potholes then enlarged when vehicles drive over them.