Spring sprung, grass not riz; frozen drains flood, hide where potholes is By: Nicole Buffie Posted: 3:08 PM CDT Monday, Mar. 23, 2026 Last Modified: 5:18 PM CDT Monday, Mar. 23, 2026 Updates

Chelsea Toews was driving to deliver a customer’s food order over the weekend when she saw a series of potholes she couldn’t avoid.

She didn’t speed over the craters, which had opened up near Portage and Main, but still ended up with two shredded tires.

“It’s unfortunate because tires are very expensive and I’m not sure if it caused any other issues, like my rims,” she said Monday.

As someone who makes a living doing a variety of odd jobs, Toews lost out on being paid for the food order she was supposed to deliver, and is now staring down a bill for tires and, possibly, repairs.

Spring has sprung in Winnipeg, and that means streets filled with potholes hidden by lakes because melting snow is unable to get down clogged and frozen street drains.

City repair crews have already been out patching potholes with a temporary “cold mix” before they can switch to hot asphalt for longer-term repairs when the weather gets warmer in May.

To date, the city has filled 14,559 potholes, down from the 29,839 holes it plugged over the same period in 2025.

The city filled a total 326,437 potholes last year, down from 2024’s 360,776, but up from 2023’s 242,261. Last year the city spent $5.2 million repairing them, down from $6.3 million in 2024.

The city has received 1,274 calls to 311 about potholes this year, slightly down from the 1,249 calls it received over the same period in 2025 and down from the 3,367 calls in 2024.

City council approved $156.8 million for regional and local street repair this year, and $1.1 billion to be spent over the next six years — the most council has ever budgeted.

Seth Nepon was driving down Portage Avenue a few weeks ago when he came upon a pothole. He had one of two options: swerve into the cars next to him, or hit the hole.

“It took out my driver’s side front and rear tire. Subsequently, I had to then replace the other two as the tires and tread need to match,” Nepon said.

As a social worker, his vehicle is needed for the job so Nepon shelled out $1,000 to get the car back on the road.

Manitoba Public Insurance has received 352 pothole-related claims since Jan. 1, including 246 in March alone. Between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2025, MPI received 509 pothole-related claims.

Meantime, Winnipegger Tyler Crichton and four of his friends took matters into their own hands Saturday to clear some drains in St. James.

Using Google Earth, they were able to locate street drains and picked away at the ice using whatever they had on hand: ice picks, axes and pitchforks.

They cleared six drains in about three hours, and edited together a video to the dance song Call on Me by Eric Prydz. It has been making the rounds on social media since.

“You see a problem and you want to tackle it, it’s an easy thing to do for the community and it makes it better for everybody,” Crichton said. “We look to the city to take care of some of the stuff, but if we can go out there and help along and have some fun while we’re doing it… it’s just a win-win.”

Gurashish Singh was introduced to drain-clearing Saturday after he called 311 about his flooded back lane in Bridgwater. The operator told Singh the problem couldn’t be addressed until next Monday.

He called area councillor Janice Lukes several times, but she didn’t immediately return his calls, and water was already seeping into his detached garage, so he grabbed a shovel and got to work.

After a few hours and help from neighbours, the clog was cleared.

He, too, shared his experience online, a first for him in the neighbourhood.

“People were saying this was a tradition, but I would say that if we are a tax-contributing member of society… this is my duty, but not my responsibility,” Singh said.

Lukes said in an email Monday she was at a funeral Saturday and couldn’t return Singh’s call. She went to the neighbourhood Sunday morning to investigate the issue.

In a social media post, Lukes said the city aims to provide services where possible “but we also know cities are stronger when individuals contribute in whatever way they can.”

“If you notice a storm drain that is frozen or blocked, your help in clearing it is greatly appreciated,” she wrote.

City spokesperson Adam Campbell said the city has 10 crews out with steaming machines working to melt ice and clear blockages, but they are prioritizing clearing based on potential for property damage.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca