Toronto is launching an aggressive pothole repair push this week, with Mayor Olivia Chow announcing that 29 city crews are already out patching roads after one of the harshest winters in recent years left streets cracked, cratered, and increasingly hazardous for drivers.

“I understand the frustration drivers feel, the damage potholes can cause,” Chow said Tuesday, noting that fluctuating temperatures and repeated storms have created ideal conditions for widespread road deterioration. “Mother Nature hasn’t given us a break, but as soon as there is an opportunity, City crews will do a blitz.”

This year’s winter has been particularly punishing, with extreme cold snaps followed by sudden warmups and heavy snowfalls. City data shows pothole volumes typically spike during these conditions, and officials say 2026 is shaping up to be another high‑demand repair season.

Chow increases city’s pothole repair budget for 2026

In 2025, Toronto filled more than 250,000 potholes, a figure that peaked in 2024, when city crews filled more than 280,000. According to city data, from Jan. 1, 2026, to Feb. 25, 2026, the city has repaired just over 23,000 potholes; more than 33,000 were repaired during the same timeframe in 2025, and over 47,000 were fixed in 2024.

Chow said she has increased the pothole repair budget from $5.5 million to $6.2 million for 2026, allowing for more crews, more materials, and faster response times.

According to the city, crews repair potholes year‑round when weather allows, but blitzes like Tuesday’s are timed to take advantage of brief windows of dry, above‑freezing conditions. The city says it aims to fix reported potholes within four days, though timelines can vary depending on weather and road conditions.

Chow urged residents to help identify the worst‑affected areas.

“Please report potholes to 3‑1‑1 so we can continue tracking and prioritizing the worst roads.”