Potholes are Halifax's unofficial mascot. Every spring, freeze-thaw cycles tear up roads across HRM — from Barrington Street to the Bedford Highway to rural Musquodoboit Harbour.
Here's how to actually get them fixed.
Who Fixes Potholes in Halifax?
It depends on the road:
Municipal roads: (most streets in Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, Sackville): Report to **HRM 311** at contactus@311.halifax.ca
100-series highways: (102, 103, 104, 118): Report to **Nova Scotia Public Works** at TPWPAFF@novascotia.ca
Bus routes with damage: Also report to **Halifax Transit** at halifax.transit@halifax.ca
Not sure which authority handles your road? That's exactly why we built SolveHFX — it figures it out automatically.
The Fastest Way: Use SolveHFX
1. Open solvehfx.ca/report
2. Drop a pin on the pothole location
3. Take a photo
4. Our AI identifies the issue and drafts a report
5. Hit submit — we send it to the right authority AND your district councillor
The whole process takes about 60 seconds. No account required.
What to Include in Your Report
Whether you use SolveHFX or report directly to 311, include:
Exact location: Street name, nearest intersection, or GPS coordinates
Photo: Shows size and severity — a photo is worth a thousand words to a road crew
Condition: Is water pooling? Is it spreading? How deep?
Traffic impact: Is it a busy street? Does it affect cyclists?
How Long Until It Gets Fixed?
High-traffic roads: (Spring Garden, Quinpool, Barrington): 1-3 weeks if reported by multiple people
Residential streets: 3-8 weeks depending on severity
Highways: 1-2 weeks if dangerous
Multiple reports on the same pothole speed things up. SolveHFX tracks community verification — the more people verify a pothole exists, the higher the priority.
Pro Tips for Getting Faster Action
1. Report during spring maintenance season (March-May): Crews are already out, repairs happen faster
2. Report dangerous potholes immediately: If it's causing accidents, mention that explicitly
3. Include the road number: "Pothole on HRM Road 7" is easier to process than "on the street near the corner store"
4. Report in batches if you see multiple: Crews can fix clusters in one trip
5. Follow up: If you don't see progress in 4 weeks, report it again — it may have been missed
Alternative: Direct Contact
If you prefer reporting without SolveHFX:
HRM 311: Open a service request at 311.halifax.ca or call 311
Your Councillor: Email your district councillor directly — they can escalate to HRM
NS Public Works: For highways, email TPWPAFF@novascotia.ca with location and photo
But honestly? SolveHFX does all of this in one step, routes to the right place, and your report gets verified by your whole neighborhood.
Have a pothole to report? Report it now with SolveHFX — no account needed, takes 60 seconds.