The Town of Sundre's operations manager is asking local motorists to be patient and to drive with caution as the municipality's modest road crew endeavours to prioritize problem potholes.
Since the community is situated right on top of a gravel bed, local roads have a tendency to sprout a rash of problems every spring as the ground underneath shifts continuously during numerous freeze and thaw cycles throughout the winter, said Jim Hall.
"We have a lot of shape shifting that happens underground."
An accumulative total of almost three metres of snow that fell on Sundre this winter combined with temperatures that ranged wildly between -30 C and 15 C only made things worse this year, he said.
While some potholes are easier to fix, those that are in a drainage path and tend to pool up with meltwater have to dry out before the crew can properly repair them, he said.
"A lot of people think we're not fixing potholes," he said.
"Sometimes, we just have to throw gravel in there until the weather allows for a proper fix."
Attempting to repair a pothole with water draining through it is an exercise in futility. But once the snow and frost have all melted, leaving the ground largely dry, maintenance efforts will kick into high gear, he said.
"We'll be doing daily maintenance and grading and dust control once it's drier. Now that we have a second roads operator, we can increase the level of service."
The town's operations department, which receives about $20,000 in its annual budget for minor pothole repairs, does not have an official list outlining priority potholes. Instead, the crew begins to check roads visually once the snow starts to melt, he said.
"As soon as we can start to see them (potholes), we start planning."
Potholes that are large enough to potentially cause problems for vehicles that drive over them too fast are generally prioritized, he said.
"The last thing we want to hear is that someone damaged a vehicle going over a pothole."
The municipality has been in contact with Alberta Transportation, which owns Highway 27 going through Sundre's downtown, regarding drastically deteriorated sections on Main Avenue. However, the municipality owns the underground infrastructure, which also requires repairs, he said.
Provincial officials are aware of the situation, and the operations manager hopes repairs will eventually be done in tandem with an Alberta Transportation crew repaving the road once the municipality has dug out and replaced or repaired the old pipes.
"We have to do it dance partner," he said about collaborating with the province on Main Avenue.
Although the municipality's two road operators endeavour daily to keep their eyes peeled to make note of potholes that require attention, Hall confessed the odd one might slip under the radar, and he encourages residents to call either the town office at 403-638-3551 or the town shop at 403-638-4707 to report potholes. People who might want a followup phone call are also welcome to leave their contact information, he said.
"Be patient with us," said Hall.
"We don't like having potholes either ó we live in town too."
