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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Yellowknifer Joe Lapka has had rocks damage his vehicles three times over three days while driving through the city. He's angry about the size of the gravel being spread on city streets, saying it is too big and large enough to damage cars.

"A chip always turns into a crack," said Lapka.

Joe Lapka holds a piece of rock that hit his vehicle on Wednesday and caused a chip in his window. He's angry about the size of the crushed rock being used by the city. - Cara Loverock/ NNSL Photo

He said last Wednesday he was driving his Dodge van down Franklin Avenue when a large chunk of rock flew up off another car and hit his windshield, causing a chip, and landed on his hood.

"It's the third time in three days," he said.

"I'm already looking at $1,000 (in repairs) because someone is putting golf balls on the road ... I don't know why the city can get away with it." According to the City of Yellowknife, there are protocols that are followed for the crushed rock spread on city streets and they haven't had a complaint about the size of gravel in years.

"The contractor has to crush rock to (the city's) specification," said Chris Greencorn, manager of public works.

He said there haven't been any complaints about the gravel and the city is using the same contractor and crushed rock as last year.

Greencorn said although "there might be the odd big rock" there is no way to tell if a rock hitting a car came from the gravel truck or if it was already on the road.

He said the crushed rock is necessary "to create safe driving conditions" during winter.