We asked the City of Edmonton who's responsible for pothole damage

Potholes are a frustrating part of life in Edmonton, especially in the winter.

As a northern city, our constant freeze-thaw cycles in the winter cause water to accumulate and freeze on the road. Add the weight of millions of pounds of cars (including YEG’s love for pickup trucks), and hazardous potholes are practically unavoidable.

But when they cause damage to your car, who’s responsible for the costs?

The City of Edmonton says pothole repairs are ongoing year-round. The City’s website notes that more than 500,000 potholes were filled last year, and we can expect crews to be even busier as the city emerges from a weeks-long deep freeze.

But despite these efforts, potholes remain a major hazard for drivers. Last winter, an Edmontonian shared a photo of their dented tire rim, which they claimed was caused by a pothole at Stony Plain Road and 166th Street.

“Stay far to the left or avoid the right lane altogether if heading westbound on Stony Plain Road at 166th Street. Giant pothole destroyed both of my passenger side rims on my car,” the post on Reddit said. “Going go to file a claim but not expecting anything to come out of it.”

Pothole at Stony Plain Road and 166st
byu/DrominoSlonski inEdmonton

According to the City of Edmonton, for those looking to file a claim, Provincial law may make it liable for pothole damage if these criteria are met:

• The condition of the roadway was outside the reasonable state of repair, accounting for the character of the road in question and the area of the City
• The City knew, or ought to have known, of the state of disrepair
• The City had not taken reasonable steps to prevent the disrepair from occurring
• The road in question falls under City jurisdiction, is not a private road or a provincial highway
• Written notice of the incident is provided to the City within 30 days of the occurrence

However, filing a claim for pothole damage can be difficult. According to the City of Edmonton’s website, less than 10 per cent of submitted claims in 2018 met the legal criteria and were deemed valid.

Also, not all roads in Edmonton fall under the City’s jurisdiction. The Province of Alberta is responsible for maintaining these roads within the City of Edmonton’s boundaries:

• Anthony Henday Drive, including all ramps
• Highway 15 (Manning Drive), north of Anthony Henday Drive
• Highway 2 (Gateway Boulevard/Calgary Trail), south of Anthony Henday Drive
• Highway 16 (Yellowhead Trail), west of Anthony Henday Drive

If damage happens on these roads, drivers are told to contact Alberta Transportation.