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They put the city and the province in the hole, both literally and figuratively. And this year is one of the worst most can remember. They're potholes and while we've talked about them before this winter, the endless freezing and thawing that causes the holes in the asphalt are leaving repair crews playing a never ending game of hide and seek with the road wreckers.

"This is the worst year we've had," said Bill Duggan, a highway maintenance serviceman.

"They're bigger, they're deeper and they're more numerous," said motorist Dave Charleboi.

"This is probably the worst I've seen it in all my years of driving," said OPP Const. Dave Woodford.

While Toronto and its heavy traffic has always been plagued by the concrete cavities, it's Ontario highways - where speeds are much higher and the damage to your car can be much greater - that has Queen's Park's attention.

Transportation Minister Jim Bradley has taken note of the crisis, which has affected not only the 400 series of highways but also the QEW and just about every other major thoroughfare in the province. And as motorists' complaints about the hidden hazards grow, the man in charge promises to get things fixed as quickly as possible.

"We've got a winter this time which is particularly challenging," Bradley explains. "When you have constant freezing and melting, you tend to get more potholes. We're going to make every effort to get after them."

He admits the constant snowfall has made that something of a challenge and he expects it will cost Ontario a small fortune to get them fixed. The province already spends over $4 million a year patching the problems, and uses more than 17,000 tonnes of material - which the government says is enough to fill 850 dump trucks.

Despite the overwhelming number during this exceptional winter, it's a battle Bradley is vowing to fight and win, even as Mother Nature expands the playing field. "Our crews will be out there working as quickly as possible and as extensively as possible to get them fixed because it's something that nobody, but nobody, wants to encounter," he promises.

Crews fixed 400 potholes Wednesday alone, and they're still at it.

In the meantime, if you spot - or worse, hit - a pothole on the highway or have a complaint about the condition of the road, call (416) 235-4686 or 1-800-268-4686.

How do you get your money back for damage done by the constant chasms? Here's a review.

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