23K potholes filled in Seattle last year; December ice storm damage keeping crews busy

SEATTLE — There have been extra potholes in Seattle than ordinary final yr, with the Seattle Division of Transportation filling 23,000, the very best quantity within the final 5 years and 50% greater than in 2021, in accordance with SDOT.

SDOT officers say whereas most potholes are crammed 72 hours after they’re reported, that will not be doable following winter storms when crews cope with a spike in new potholes suddenly.

That continues to be the case proper now and over the previous few weeks after December’s ice storm broken streets. Thus far this yr, SDOT says crews have already crammed 5,500 potholes, together with as many as 500 in a day.

To cope with the injury, SDOT has elevated the scale of its pothole response crew. This yr, crews have additionally been patrolling snow plow routes within the metropolis searching for new potholes. The routes are extra vulnerable to creating potholes as a result of extra heavy automobiles journey them throughout winter storms.

New potholes proceed to look months after a storm as site visitors drives over broken pavement. As well as, SDOT stated repairs made in winter don’t final endlessly as a result of the asphalt used doesn’t adhere to the encompassing pavement as nicely throughout chilly climate.

As a result of potholes are a unending battle, and SDOT can not repair potholes they aren’t conscious of, the general public is requested to assist by utilizing the Discover It, Repair It App, utilizing this type, emailing 684-ROAD@seattle.gov or calling 206-684-ROAD(7623).

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