It’s pothole season in town and they’re all over, and you try to swerve around them — if you see them — but can’t avoid them and your front-end takes a hit and your poor tires are abused until they blow out.
Now with the freeze-thaw-freeze-thaw weather, the potholes some curse about, are in deep, gaping bloom.
What is the city doing about it?
The city rents out two crazy Dr. Seuss-like machines. It’s called the Python 5000.
It patches potholes in just under three minutes. It was invented by Les Hulicsko out in Regina.
It’s an all-in-one machine. Hauls five tonnes of hot asphalt, blows out all the water and debris, dumps the asphalt, rakes it and then rolls it. Just one operator. One machine. It’s billed as labour efficiency and safety. No crews out on the road in high-traffic zones.
“It’s all-in-one,” says Tim Tierney, the chair of the city’s public works committee.
Its developers have said the Python 5000 looks like the offspring of a combine and a Zamboni with a snake-like robotic arm.
Have there been problems with the Python?
Sudbury had problems with parts and repairs but not so much for Ottawa. That’s because, unlike Sudbury, Ottawa didn’t buy them, and instead rented them.
“Thankfully we don’t have problems because we lease them so we don’t have to get involved in any of the maintenance or outsourcing of parts,” Tierney said.
How often is the Python 5000 out on city streets?
The two machines run 24/7 for 900 hours, or around two months. The city rents them for $400,000 and that includes labour . ( The Python 5000 comes with an operator who is not on city staff).
But it’s not just about the machine
Hundreds of outside city workers are out there, day in, day out, patching potholes the old-fashioned way.
“They are super hardworking people,” Tierney said.
What’s the total cost to fix the city’s pot holes?
All in, you’re looking at a $12-million investment. The outside city workers are now into a new season after a bad winter and as of Sunday night have been out on the roads patching up every pothole they can.
How many potholes are there in Ottawa?
There are 250,000 potholes that the city knows about. So far this season, the city crews and the Python 5000 have patched more than 50,000 potholes so far this season.
What happens now, with the up and down weather
In an update to city council on Tuesday morning, Quentin Levesque Director of Roads and Parking Services, said based on the forecast, we are anticipating several freeze-thaw cycles over the coming weeks. “The city has already experienced 45freeze/thaw cycles this winter season. Residents can expect to see our pothole crews across the City. We appreciate your patience as we transition between different winter maintenance activities and prioritize and deploy resources to complete our operations.”
And for folks who wish to
report a pothole
, a service request can be created online.
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