Edmonton pothole repairs and snow clearing fall short of city targets, report says

Edmonton’s performance when it comes to repairing potholes and clearing snow did not meet city targets in 2025, according to a new city report which goes to council on Friday.

The report says the city's parks and roads services department is grappling with challenges that are creating less predictable operating conditions, like a budget that hasn't kept pace with growth and the impacts of climate change.

Potholes in high-priority locations are supposed to be inspected within two days and repaired within 10. Lower-priority locations should be looked at within five days and fixed in a month, according to standards outlined on the city’s website.

But during the last quarter of 2025, that only happened 68 per cent of the time, falling far short of the city’s target of 80 per cent. 

As for snow, the city’s expectation is that freeways, bus routes and the downtown business district are to be cleared within one day. Residential roadways are supposed to be completed within 14 days.

The city met that mark 78 per cent of the time during the last quarter of 2025, nearly 12 per cent shy of the city target, the report says.

There are also success stories when it comes to achieving the city's goals. The city said crews are surpassing targets when it comes to clearing encampments and mowing grass, meeting service levels more than 90 per cent of the time.

The report will be considered as part of council’s deliberations to decide what to prioritize when setting the next four-year budget.

A statement from Mayor Andrew Knack said current service levels have not kept pace with the city’s growth.

“As we look ahead to the four-year budget, I will take in residents’ feedback, ensuring that core services honour expectations and growth demands.”

Ward Karhiio Coun. Keren Tang said with Edmonton dealing with significant snowfall this winter, she knows her fellow councillors have snow clearing top of mind. 

But she cautioned against overcorrecting. 

“I think it's really reactive to shift the budget dramatically on this portfolio, given a once-in-a-30-year event,” Tang said, referring to back-to-back snowfall events in December.

She pointed out that in the previous two winter seasons, snow crews met service levels more than 90 per cent of the time.