Surrey neighbours take creative action to alert drivers of large pothole
Published 3:15 pm Friday, April 24, 2026
Neighbours in Surrey’s Bridgeview area took warning drivers into their own hands after a large pothole appeared in a nearby intersection sometime overnight Thursday (April 23).
Residents had placed an old office chair decorated with warning messages and bright tape in the intersection of 128 Street and 114B Ave to warn drivers of the large pothole.
Mimi Jacobson, owner of Doggy Doolil Daycare, told the Now-Leader that her neighbour first noticed it while walking her kids to school that morning.
The pothole was about two feet wide and a foot-and-a-half wide, and about two inches deep, Jacbobson said.
Her neighbour called the city mid-afternoon to ask them to fix it.
Later in the afternoon, Jacbobson and her neighbours were in their homes when they suddenly heard a large bang outside.
“It was a cab that hit the hole, and it was a loud thumping sound,” she said.
She and her neighbour went out to investigate.
“We’re like, Oh, we have got to do something. Let’s mark that hole, or someone’s going to really injure their car or get hurt,” she said.
Jacobson grabbed an old office chair she was going to throw out, and her neighbour grabbed some bright spray paint and drew a circle around the hole and placed the chair near the hole to warn drivers.
“Progressively throughout the day, more people came with their little additions, like a checkered dish towel, orange tape, hazard stickers and party streamers,” Jacobson said. “We just decorated this chair out. It looks like a Christmas tree. It’s really hilarious,” she said.
People added several signs that read, “Danger: caution pothole,” and “I’m a hole looking to be filled…” and “City of Surrey, fix me please.”
Since putting the chair out, Jacobson did not hear any more loud booms from drivers hitting the pothole.
The pothole and the chair were gone by Friday morning, April 24, after the city came by to fix it.
The City of Surrey engineer department stated in an emailed statement that, “City crews responded promptly after receiving a report through the after-hours call centre at approximately 7:50 a.m. Crews were on site within 30 minutes to assess the situation, secure the area, and carry out initial repairs to ensure the roadway was safe for public use.”
City crews investigated the large pothole and found it was related to recently ultilties work in the area. A permanent fix is scheduled on Monday.
The City encourages people to report any infrastructure issues, such as large potholes, as it takes them seriously and responds “as quickly as possible to ensure public safety.” Reports can be made by calling 604 591 4152 or online at: my.surrey.ca/report-a-problem
About the Author: Anna Burns
I cover breaking news, health care, court, Vancouver Rise FC, Vancouver Goldeneyes and social issues-related topics for the Surrey Now-Leader. anna.burns@surreynowleader.com Follow Anna on Twitter.