Iqaluit potholes take their toll on vehicles, drivers

An Iqaluit mechanic says the potholes in Nunavut's capital are as bad as they were in Afghanistan.

Ralph Hammerbeck was a mechanic on a military base there, but now he works for Upper Base Garage.

He said they've been busy replacing ball joints, springs, shocks, suspensions, even CV shafts that have cracked down the middle because of the rough condition of the roads.

"The only difference between here and there is there's no bombs dropping," he said. "A subtle difference, but one I appreciate."

'The only difference between here and there is there's no bombs dropping.' Ralph Hammerbeck

Joe Ferjes, who has been a taxi driver in Iqaluit for 27 years, said more snow means there are more and deeper potholes this year.

He said the city should work on removing snow piles and then grade the roads.

He said potholes slow down cabs and make it take longer to pick up or drop off customers, and it's not just cars being jostled around.

"By the end of the day, I have such a sore lower back, it's not funny," he said.

"Usually all winter I've got no problem with my back. Come spring with the potholes, my back is gone."

Iqaluit mayor John Graham said the city has been trying to repair roads but shortly after the holes are filled in, he says they appear again because of melting snow.

"I mean four hours later it's back to just as bad as it was in the first instance because the snow's continuing to melt and everything's running," he said.

Graham said the city can only pave roads in the summer and they need the money to that work.

He said until there's a solution he advises drivers to slow down and be careful around pedestrians.