New pothole repair machine hits Timmins streets
Anticipation has been brewing for Timmins to have its first semi-automated pothole patcher machine – the Python 5000 -- maintaining city roads.
City roads supervisor Mario Vandal accompanied one of his workers on the machine's first day of work Wednesday. He said staff are still getting used to the new machine, but there are plenty of places to practise.
"We're excited to try it out and free up some bodies to help us get some of our potholes filled and keep our citizens happy," Vandal said.
The $500,000 Python 5000 was a must-have for the city, he said, since it's essentially an all-in-one machine that needs just one person to operate it.
The traditional system for pothole maintenance requires several people to shovel asphalt and pat it down, plus several vehicles to move the workers and materials.
But the new machine can do all of that with a single operator, plus clear debris with high-pressure and spray a tack coat to keep the asphalt in place.
"The proper compaction will make the difference," Vandal said.
"You can never replace the human element, but the biggest aspect is now we free up three or four more bodies to do other work that needs to be done."
Drivers passing by the machine as it patched up potholes along Government Road lingered to watch it work.
City councillor Joe Campbell also popped by to see it in action, saying while it arrived late in the pothole season, it will be a major help in maintaining hundreds of kilometres of paved roads for years to come.
"With the freeze-thaw cycles that we have in this area, northern Ontario, it's difficult to keep the roads from developing potholes," Campbell said.
"The quicker we can fill them with this machine, which obviously is quicker than the old method, it's going to be a great benefit to trying to keep our roads drivable.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
RCMP uncovers plot to sell drones and equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Thieves use stolen forklift to rip cash machine out of U.K. bank
Police in the U.K. are searching for a group of suspects seen on video using a forklift to steal a cash machine from a bank.
'There was a lot of black smoke': Crane operator sounds alarm while trapped during highrise fire in Halifax
A tower crane operator alerted emergency crews after noticing a fire on a construction site in Halifax Tuesday morning.
Cherry blossoms blooming in Canada: Here's what to know
There is a swaying sea of colour in some cities across Canada, and it's a sure sign of spring: cherry blossoms are in bloom.