Potholes still vex city

Potholes can rattle a car and the driver's nerves as the tires bounce and the suspension bends, possibly causing expensive repair bills.

Mayor Greg Nickels in March declared war on potholes when he promised the city would fix each reported pothole within 48 hours.

Rich Sheridan, communications manager for the Seattle Department of Transportation, said the city did the repairs on time 94 percent of the time.

"Our pothole rangers are dedicated to fixing pot holes. The Pothole Rangers filled 38,215 potholes in 2007," said Sheridan.

Alki Avenue is a busy street used by many people visiting one of Seattle's most scenic and popular beaches. However, it has many holes for cars to avoid.

"There are a lot of pot holes. It's pretty bad," said Mike, a service adviser at Alki Auto Repair.

The city has started resurfacing Alki Avenue Southwest east of Bonair Place to the 1700 block of Alki Avenue Southwest.

Southwest Beach Drive from Southwest Genesee to Southwest Oregon Street will be repaved. Part of 16th Avenue Southwest from Southwest Findlay Street to Southwest Brandon Street and a portion of Southwest Genesee from 51st Avenue Southwest to 47th Avenue Southwest are scheduled to be repaved.

Rising oil prices have meant fewer roads repaired Chicago, Phoenix and other cities. But that has not deterred the Seattle Department of Transportation.

Sheridan said petroleum based asphalt is more expensive now, but the primary cost is labor and vehicle related.

"We're not cutting back on asphalt. Cost is a small element overall," said Sheridan.

The city has four trucks called "hot boxes," that keep the asphalt hot. Trucks are assigned to each quadrant of the city with a list of reported potholes to repair. Crews also look for unreported potholes.

Crews in groups of three to five work on the bone jarring holes that have drivers uttering four-letter words everyday. Some streets require the use of flaggers, adding to the expense.

Sheridan says it is a multi-step process of cleaning out the hole, pouring in asphalt and ensuring there are not gaps for rainwater to seep in.

Water damages asphalt if it gets underneath and causes it to erode. During winter, the freezing and unfreezing of water is a major contributor to street damage.

"There are a number of situations we can't fix," said Sheridan.

Not all pothole reports are repaired because some are road defects. These include utility cuts, rough roadway surfaces, ruts, long cracks and sink holes, which must wait for other city agencies or private property owners to patch-up.

Pothole repairs are also are not permanent, and repairs done in cold temperatures don't last as long as those done on dry, warm pavement. The long-term solution is repaving the street.

Sheridan says the city does not keep statistics on how many potholes are filled in particular neighborhoods.

"People do call us citywide," said Sheridan.

According to the city of Seattle Web site, there is backlog of over 40 years of deferred maintenance because of lack of funds.

The Bridging the Gap levy passed by voters in 2006 provides $365 million over a nine-year period for transportation issues.

"It's a complete effort to deal with transportation infrastructure issues. Forty one miles all over the city," said Sheridan.

In 2007, Bridging the Gap money was used to pave 27 miles of road, restripe 1,578 miles of arterials, replace street name signs at 1,043 intersections, remark 789 crosswalks, repair 14 blocks of sidewalks and build 13 blocks of new sidewalks. Bridges were also refurbished, guardrails replaced, staircases repaired and signs in school zones improved.

This year's goals include paving 33 miles of streets and more of the other listed work.

"When you have older roads, you have to be aggressive. Older roads are susceptible," said Sheridan.

Driving over potholes can be annoying and is destructive to vehicles.

"It can damage the suspension if you hit it hard enough or the pothole is big enough," said Mike, the Alki Auto service advisor.

"Pot holes can take the alignment out of adjustment, bend wheels and put wear and tear on the struts and support points," said Josh Donnelly, service advisor at High Road Automotive.

"Pot holes on wet roads can affect breaking and be dangerous. The vehicle can skid," said Donnelly, who rides a motorcycle and sees additional safety issues on two wheels.

During his March anti-pothole campaign, Nickels urged citizens to call 684-ROAD.

He said the only good pothole is a filled pothole. The more you report it, the more holes the city fixes.

The system seems to work. This reporter called in a particularly bad pothole to the city and it was repaired in a couple of days.

Request a pothole fix at http:// www.ci.seattle.wa.us/transportation/potholes/ or call 684-ROAD.

Dean Wong may be reached at 782.1244 or deanw@robinsonnews.com