On July 14, 2026 the City of Montreal issued a new public tender aimed at replacing the automated pothole‑filling machines that have been out of service since the previous winter. The tender marks the city’s intention to restart its automated pothole‑repair program after more than a year of relying on manual methods.
The automated equipment, which had been used to fill road depressions without direct human intervention, failed during the winter of 2025. Since that time, municipal crews have been repairing potholes by hand, a process that requires additional labor and can slow traffic flow. The city’s announcement indicates that the current tender will solicit proposals for new machines capable of resuming the automated approach.
Details of the tender outline the technical requirements for the replacement units, the expected delivery schedule, and the criteria for evaluating bids. While specific costs and quantities have not been disclosed, the city emphasizes that the new machines will be integrated into the existing road‑maintenance workflow to improve efficiency and reduce the need for manual labor.
City officials noted that the return of automated repairs is expected to streamline the maintenance of Montreal’s road network, especially as the city moves into the summer months when traffic volumes increase. The decision to seek new equipment follows an assessment of the previous system’s performance and the challenges encountered after the equipment malfunctioned.
Montreal’s road‑maintenance strategy has thus shifted back toward automation after a period of manual intervention, reflecting the municipality’s broader goal of modernizing infrastructure services. The tender process is now open, and the city will award the contract once a suitable supplier is selected.