Montreal potholes: drivers brace for another winter on roads already in rough shape

Montreal is heading into another winter with roads that many drivers say are already badly damaged. Record numbers of pothole complaints were filed last winter, with more than 4,200 in January 2026 alone.

On De Lorimier Avenue near the Jacques-Cartier Bridge, a pothole is so big "you could literally sit inside it," according to the report. Residents say the freeze-thaw cycle will make things worse.

"I'm worried about it because last year, I damaged my car's front suspension," said John, a Montreal resident. Brian O'Conner, another resident, said "the number of potholes we'll see will only get worse with the freezing and thawing." Sophie Carter said, "It's getting worse and worse every year, I think."

Saad Tekiout has been filling potholes in his spare time, for free, since April in response to requests from Montrealers. He met with the mayor and says little has changed. "We don't really know who is taking responsibility for this because, if I were in charge, I would fix it in one week," he said. He has proposed dedicated crews to find and repair small cracks before winter. The mayor's office was contacted for comment and had not responded at the time of publication.

Pierre Barrieau, a transportation planning lecturer, said city patches often don't last 48 to 72 hours through freeze-thaw cycles. "The reality is we have a multi-decade deficit in maintaining our road network," he said. He added that the city lacks the budget and staff to find and repair cracks from spring to fall.

The city is also adding more salt to sidewalks this winter. Barrieau said the salt can improve pedestrian safety, but the water it creates can seep into roads and weaken foundations. "By adding the salt, yes, we'll have more water, but sometimes it will freeze more," he said.

Montreal fills potholes with machinery from November to April, and manual repairs are done weather permitting.