Potholes proliferate in early January thaw

The unusual January warming trend is kicking off an equally unusual earlypothole season.

Already the city has received41 claims of damage to vehicles by potholes sincethe start of the new year.

In 2014, there were542 claims in total.

When Michael Clark hit a pothole on Emily Murphy Trail,it blew his tire and bent his axle, he said.

The same day he watchedtwo other drivers changing their tires after hitting the same hole, Clarksaid

The city was quick to respond to his call.

"The lady said it would be filled before the end of the evening when I phoned. So, yeah, that was a giant pothole and now it's not. So that's good!"

As for his claim?

"I phoned 311 and they were very helpful and very supportive.They gave me a claim number," he said. "Apparently the more incidents in the same place, the more likely you are to get your claim considered."

In an average year, 450,000new potholes appear on Edmonton streets.