Base repairs Permeable fabrics, which strengthen, reinforce and improve drainage, are used to repair alligator cracking and distortion caused by settlement or heave. Installation involves excavating the area, putting the permeable fabrics in place, laying down and compacting new gravel and finally repaving the road surface.

Crack sealing keeps excess moisture from penetrating asphalt and preventing further cracking, potholes and deterioration of the road. As soon as the sealant pouring into the crack is dry, the road can be driven on.

Microsurfacing is similar to crack sealing, however, instead of being applied to a single, small area it is applied across the entire road. This cost-effective solution slows down the natural deterioration of the road and preserves road lifetime without costly and disruptive construction. Learn more about micro surfacing – an innovative solution.

Pothole repair is a major component of our city’s roadway maintenance. The City of Calgary fills over 40,000 potholes each year. Explore the annual pothole repair program to learn what causes potholes and how The City repairs them.

Repaving is when the old pavement surface is milled away and new asphalt is laid down. To learn more about the paving process, please see the road work brochure. Look at this year’s paving schedule to see where The City is repaving this year.

Road reconstruction consists of completely removing and replacing an existing road and its substructure. This is the most costly rehabilitation method, and a roadway only qualifies for full reconstruction if: it is extremely deteriorated, other treatments (such as repaving or spray patching) will not be effective, and the cost of other repairs will be higher than the cost of reconstructing the road. A fully reconstructed road will last up to 20 years.

Slabjacking creates a solid foundation under pavement to correct settling in the road. Holes are cored into the settled roadway and grout is injected to fill any voids. The road is raised and leveled, and finished to match the existing roadway.

Spray Patching is a quick, efficient, and cost-effective way to repair cracked and damaged pavement using an emulsified mixture of asphalt and gravel. Large cracks, potholes, localized raveling, alligator cracking and gaps at the lip of gutters can be corrected quickly. The road can be driven on almost immediately after the repair and after two weeks, the patched areas blend into the surrounding asphalt.