Montreal’s Pothole Crisis: Reporting, Repairs, and Infrastructure Struggles
For residents and commuters in Montreal, potholes are more than just a nuisance; they’re a recurring seasonal battle. From aging asphalt and water infiltration to the extreme temperature variations characteristic of the region, the city’s road network faces constant degradation. Although the city has a structured system for repairs, a combination of funding shortages and aging equipment has created significant hurdles in maintaining safe streets.
How to Report a Pothole in Montreal
The City of Montreal encourages citizens to report road damage to ensure timely repairs. If a pothole is potentially dangerous or requires an immediate response, the city advises contacting 311 immediately. For standard reports, residents have three primary options:
- Online: Use the city’s official online service to provide the exact location of the damage.
- By Phone: Call 311 within the city, or 514-872-0311 from outside Montreal. Service is available Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. To 8:30 p.m., and Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays from 9 a.m. To 5 p.m.
- In Person: Visit a point of service located within your specific borough.
The Scale of the Problem: By the Numbers
The volume of repairs required reflects the deteriorating state of the city’s infrastructure. According to data reported by CTV News, the City of Montreal has relied heavily on private-sector contracts to manage the workload. The number of potholes repaired has fluctuated significantly over the last few years:
- 2025: 103,026 potholes repaired.
- 2024: 61,286 potholes repaired.
- 2023: 98,288 potholes repaired.
Despite the capacity to execute these repairs, the city continues to struggle with a lack of necessary funding to implement long-term solutions.
Equipment Failures and Operational Hurdles
The ability to fix roads is often limited by the state of the machinery. Recent data obtained by The Journal de Montreal and reported by CityNews reveals that more than half of the equipment used by the City of Montreal for pothole repair has reached the end of its useful life. A stark example of this operational decline occurred in March 2026, when seven out of 13 hot mix trailers were non-functional, severely limiting the city’s capacity to perform essential roadwork.
Repair Methods: Public vs. Private Sector
The approach to repairing asphalt varies depending on whether the work is handled by the municipality or a private contractor.
Municipal Repairs
The City of Montreal schedules repairs annually, primarily utilizing machines to fix potholes from November to April. When necessary, manual patching is performed year-round to address urgent gaps in the asphalt.
Private Sector Solutions
Private firms, such as Mr. Pothole, provide specialized services for residential, commercial, and industrial sites across Montreal, Laval, and the West Island. These providers often use different technical approaches, including:
- Infrared Technology: Heating the area and filling it with cold asphalt for high-compaction tamping.
- ColdFix™: Filling potholes with hot asphalt combined with bond treatment and an asphalt seal.
Key Takeaways for Residents
| Issue | Solution/Status |
|---|---|
| Urgent Potholes | Call 311 immediately. |
| Standard Reporting | Online, phone, or borough point of service. |
| City Equipment | Over 50% of equipment is at the end of its useful life. |
| Repair Volume | Peaked at over 103,000 repairs in 2025. |
Montreal’s road maintenance remains a complex challenge. While the city has the mechanisms in place to report and repair damage, the combination of aging machinery and financial constraints suggests that the battle against potholes will continue to be a seasonal struggle for the foreseeable future.
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