** this story has been updated
The pain of potholes is real for drivers in Surrey, but apparently one Red Green-endorsed fix helps flatten those nasty road blemishes.
In Cloverdale, silver duct tape was a “temporary” repair for one pothole on a street used for the recent rodeo bed races on May 19, on 176A between 57 Avenue and 58 Avenue.
“For safety reasons, they (organizers of the bed races) filled the pothole and used duct tape,” reported Paul Orazietti, executive director of Cloverdale Business Improvement Association.
On Friday (June 3), Orazietti tweeted an update.
“15 days later and duct tape still works on temporary pothole repair in Cloverdale!” he posted from his @Paradeguy account.
15 days later and duct tape still works on temporary pothole repair in Cloverdale! pic.twitter.com/ZMNIzhaTuo
— Paul Orazietti (@Paradeguy) June 3, 2022
Orazietti first tweeted about the duct-taped pothole on May 27.
Day 7 and the duct tape pot hole repair still works!! @CloverdaleRodeo pic.twitter.com/XIXQnD65lY
— Paul Orazietti (@Paradeguy) May 27, 2022
Late Friday afternoon (June 3), the city’s engineering department responded.
“City of Surrey staff were not responsible for this work and we were not aware of any issue at this location,” the statement reads.
“Following a media report, staff have checked this location where they did not find any potholes. The asphalt is cracked and broken causing less than desirable rideability performance but it is not a safety issue. Staff will be repairing the area when weather allows.”
That repair work is now done, according to a June 4 tweet from Orazietti.
Thank U Universe & @CityofSurrey !@SurreyNowLeader @PeaceArchNews @CloverdaleNews @CloverdaleCOC @CloverdaleRodeo @TomZillich
— Paul Orazietti (@Paradeguy) June 4, 2022
The mysterious powers of duct tape to be continued... pic.twitter.com/byxouFHi8h
• RELATED: 4,000 pothole-repair requests: City plans for repairs to be finished by June 1.
In mid-May, Surrey city hall said “all potholes will be filled by June 1” after crews received more than twice the usual requests in a season.
“The unusually long & cold winter resulted in 4,000 requests for pothole repair–more than twice a typical season,” tweeted the City of Surrey.
In January, Ray Kerr, the city’s manager of engineering operations, said the city has budgeted $1.45 million for pothole repairs – which is separate from the winter maintenance budget – for 2022.
with files from Lauren Collins
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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