Surrey neighbours take creative action to alert drivers of large pothole<\/p>\n
Published 3:15 pm Friday, April 24, 2026<\/p>\n
Neighbours in Surrey\u2019s Bridgeview area took warning drivers into their own hands after a large pothole appeared in a nearby intersection sometime overnight Thursday (April 23).<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The pothole was about two feet wide and a foot-and-a-half wide, and about two inches deep, Jacbobson said.<\/p>\n
Her neighbour called the city mid-afternoon to ask them to fix it.<\/p>\n
Later in the afternoon, Jacbobson and her neighbours were in their homes when they suddenly heard a large bang outside.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a cab that hit the hole, and it was a loud thumping sound,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She and her neighbour went out to investigate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re like, Oh, we have got to do something. Let\u2019s mark that hole, or someone\u2019s going to really injure their car or get hurt,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cProgressively throughout the day, more people came with their little additions, like a checkered dish towel, orange tape, hazard stickers and party streamers,\u201d Jacobson said. \u201cWe just decorated this chair out. It looks like a Christmas tree. It\u2019s really hilarious,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
People added several signs that read, \u201cDanger: caution pothole,\u201d and \u201cI\u2019m a hole looking to be filled\u2026\u201d and \u201cCity of Surrey, fix me please.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since putting the chair out, Jacobson did not hear any more loud booms from drivers hitting the pothole.<\/p>\n
The pothole and the chair were gone by Friday morning, April 24, after the city came by to fix it.<\/p>\n
The City of Surrey engineer department stated in an emailed statement that, \u201cCity 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The City encourages people to report any infrastructure issues, such as large potholes, as it takes them seriously and responds \u201cas quickly as possible to ensure public safety.\u201d Reports can be made by calling 604 591 4152 or online at: my.surrey.ca\/report-a-problem<\/a><\/p>\n About the Author: Anna Burns<\/p>\n I cover breaking news, health care, court, Vancouver Rise FC, Vancouver Goldeneyes and social issues-related topics for the Surrey Now-Leader.\u00a0anna.burns@surreynowleader.com<\/a>\u00a0Follow Anna on Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n