THUNDER BAY -- Thunder Bay motorists who face the daily challenge of dodging potholes will welcome the city's plan to buy a new piece of equipment.
The $360,000 apparatus uses hot asphalt rather than the traditional cold-patching system to fill holes in pavement.
The supplier brought it to Thunder Bay last fall and conducted a demonstration that impressed city officials.
Roads Manager Brad Adams says "There was a strong recommendation from council that we look at going with this type of a unit...The budget process basically gave us the green light to go ahead."
Adams said the machine is a one-person operation compared with the usual three-person crew assigned to pothole repairs, and uses one vehicle instead of two.
"So there is some savings there," Adams said.
Coun. Frank Pullia recorded video of the demonstration last September, and posted it to his Facebook page.
"It seems to be doing well in other Canadian cities," he said.
Pullia also noted that cold-patching in the winter does not last long.
City staff still have to report back to council on funding details, but the machine could arrive in the city by this fall.
