Potholes blamed for vehicle damage after weather washed away patch work

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The province says it attempted to fill massive potholes that damaged vehicles on Route 11 in Charlo last week, but the wet weather washed away the work. 

Drivers took to social media last week to complain about the potholes and warn other drivers. 

Several said they caused major damage to their vehicles. 

Misty Murphy said she was unable to avoid hitting one that damaged two tires and rims last Thursday. 

“I went to get groceries and it was raining and foggy and on the way home,” she said. “The truck in front of me swerved to miss it at the last second, and I drove right into it. I actually thought my axle had snapped in half.” 

She said she turned on her hazard lights and drove to use the phone at a local gas station and shortly after that saw that others had hit the same bad stretch of road near Exit 388 (Rue Pelletier) to Heron Camping and Ugpi’ganjig (Eel River Bar). 

One photo shared on Facebook showed at least eight vehicles pulled over to the side of the highway. 

Kalryssa Geraghty said she was on her way to Bathurst when she hit one of the potholes. 

“It wrecked my car,” she said. “It smashed my hubcap, rim and I had an instant flat tire that we had to change in the pouring rain on a dark foggy highway.” 

Department of Transportation and Infrastructure spokesperson Jason Hoyt said in an email that crews did work on a section of highway in Charlo last week and erected signs indicating potholes might be present after the work that was done was washed away by rain. 

“DTI completed temporary patching work the day before receiving reports of damage to vehicles, unfortunately due to recent weather conditions, the temporary patch work didn’t adhere.” 

Campbellton Dalhousie MLA Guy Arseneault says having highways repaired in a timely manner has been something he’s been trying to address for years. 

“That one spot is part of a section I’ve been trying to get redone for the last few years,” he said. “From the Charlo Airport exit to that other exit is terrible, as are many other areas in the north. We’ve been ignored for the last six years, getting just piecemeal stuff done, and it’s time they did some real work in the north.” 

Hoyt said potholes are checked as soon as possible after a report has been filed. 

“We continually monitor our road systems to determine maintenance requirements. For known potholes, signage is put in place to advise the travelling public and then DTI teams are dispatched to do the necessary patching work, weather permitting.” 

He said crews were back at filling the holes on Friday.