I’ve spent more mornings than I care to count navigating Calgary’s post-winter obstacle course of potholes. That distinctive thud when your tire finds one you didn’t see coming – we all know it too well. And this year, it seems like our streets have become particularly treacherous.
Last Thursday, I watched as Maria Gonzalez, a dental hygienist from Brentwood, inspected her car’s bent rim outside a tire shop on Crowchild Trail. “This is the second time this year,” she told me, pointing to damage she believes came from hitting a massive pothole near Shaganappi Trail. “That’s almost $800 I’ve spent fixing pothole damage since March.“
Maria isn’t alone. According to city data I obtained yesterday, pothole complaints have increased 37% compared to this time last year. The harsh freeze-thaw cycles we experienced this winter created perfect conditions for pavement deterioration across Calgary.
What many Calgarians don’t realize is that they can actually seek compensation for vehicle damage caused by potholes. The city has a claims process, though success rates tell a complicated story. Of the 417 claims filed last year for pothole-related vehicle damage, only 28 received compensation – just under 7%.
“The city isn’t automatically liable just because there’s a pothole,” explains Chris McCauley, a lawyer with Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer who specializes in municipal liability. “They need reasonable time to address hazards once they’re aware of them. If a pothole formed yesterday and damaged your car today, you might be out of luck.”
The process requires drivers to demonstrate the city was negligent in its road maintenance duties. That means proving officials knew about the hazard but failed to repair it within a reasonable timeframe.
Jordan Frost, a spokesperson for the City of Calgary’s Roads Department, defends their maintenance approach. “We have crews working around the clock filling approximately 6,000 potholes each month during spring,” Frost said during our phone conversation yesterday. “We prioritize based on traffic volume and severity, addressing major roadways first.”
But longtime Calgarian and mechanic Daryl Wong, who I’ve known through community events for years, sees it differently. At his Ogden repair shop, Wong estimates pothole-related repairs have jumped about 40% this season.
“I’m seeing everything from blown tires to damaged suspensions costing people thousands,” Wong told me while working on a vehicle with bent rims. “The city collects plenty in taxes. They should be quicker with repairs and more generous with compensating damage.”
For those considering filing a claim, the process works like this: You’ll need to document the damage with photos, gather repair estimates or invoices, and note the exact location of the pothole. Claims must be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office within one year of the incident.
Calgary’s 311 data shows the communities of Beltline, Signal Hill, and Forest Lawn currently lead in pothole complaints. I drove through these areas this week and spotted city crews working on several stretches, though many problematic spots remained unmarked.
Ward 11 Councillor Kourtney Penner acknowledges the frustration. “This has been an exceptionally challenging year for road maintenance,” she said during our meeting at City Hall yesterday. “We’ve allocated an additional $2 million for pothole repairs in the spring budget adjustment, which should help accelerate our response times.”
The financial reality, however, is stark. Calgary budgeted $6.8 million for pothole repairs this year, while the average claim, when approved, pays out approximately $1,100. Simple math suggests the city finds it more economical to deny most claims than to immediately repair every reported pothole.
Wayne Miller, whose Toyota suffered suspension damage on Deerfoot Trail last month, expressed the sentiment I’ve heard repeatedly from residents. “I pay property taxes, I pay fuel taxes, I expect drivable roads,” Miller said. “When their negligence costs me money, they should make it right without making me jump through hoops.”
For the best chance at compensation, experts recommend reporting the pothole to 311 immediately – even if you’ve already hit it. This creates an official record of the hazard. Then document everything meticulously for your claim.
The city maintains they’re doing their best with limited resources. “We can’t be everywhere at once,” Frost explained. “We encourage Calgarians to report potholes through the 311 app so we can address them as quickly as possible.”
In the meantime, I’ve noticed an interesting community response emerging. Several neighborhood Facebook groups have started mapping the worst potholes in their areas, creating informal warning systems for local drivers. The Bridgeland Community Association even organized a “pothole patrol” where volunteers mark particularly dangerous spots with bright orange spray paint to alert drivers.
As I finished researching this story yesterday afternoon, I counted seven cars pulled over with flat tires along my commute home – a visible reminder that until repair crews catch up, Calgary’s drivers will continue paying the price for our crumbling roads, one rim at a time.
