Got your own ‘Lake Pothole’? Here’s what to do about it

Every round of wet weather seems to reveal – and/or deepen – another round of potholes.

After one recent storm, C. Johnston had had it with a nearby pothole. With the help of the grandkids, the scenes in the photos above and below emerged (in an alley – nobody was playing in the street!), and CJ sent us the photos. They seemed appropriate for illustrating a reminder about how to report potholes to the city.

This city-generated map is where to start. You can configure it to show pending requests, for example (blue dots). Right this moment, we’re not seeing any in West Seattle, unless we’re not zooming in closely enough. We DO see dozens of potholes come up as filled in the past 90 days, if you check the box that brings them into view (green dots). Here’s a screengrab of one cross-section:

The map doesn’t have a “live” embeddable option but on the city website, click any of those green dots, and you’ll get details on the right side of the map – when it was reported, when it was filled. Some dots represent more than one pothole.

To report one that you know is open right now but not showing on the map, use this form – or call 206-684-ROAD, and press “1.”

P.S. As pointed out by “Pothole Reporter” in comments, the city’s Find It Fix It app also can be used to report potholes, among other problems.

Cranky Westie February 15, 2016 (4:11 pm)

Awesome!

Celeste17 February 15, 2016 (4:18 pm)

35th from Westwood village to just before the water towers at myrtle is just one long pot hole.

wsn00b February 15, 2016 (4:34 pm)

Exactly. Holden -> Othello on 35th is like a “Puget Sound” of potholes instead of one big “Lake” pothole. It would take a whole day to report all the potholes. I guess we just wait till the year 2095 when 35th is rebuilt and drive the center lane or the empty parking lane till then.
- Chris S February 16, 2016 (6:55 am)
  
  I read that 35th Ave. is slated to be repaved in 2023 under the Move Seattle levy.
  - wsn00b February 17, 2016 (1:39 pm)
    
    Chris: 2023 is 7 years away! 7 years! Are we to sit around like monkeys punching the find-it-fix-it app till then and have the city bleed millions on pothole repairs? The execution of the move seattle levy is retarded by any first-world standards.

KM February 15, 2016 (5:01 pm)

Love these pics! Finally, something enjoyable from a pothole.

Pothole Reporter February 15, 2016 (5:11 pm)

You can also download the SDOT “Find It Fix It” app from iTunes, and report potholes, burned out street lights, and various other issues.

WSB February 15, 2016 (5:34 pm)

Excellent point! Mentioned before many a time but I forgot to include it here. Will add.

ACG February 15, 2016 (6:09 pm)

I keep meaning to look at the street names and cross streets for the stretch of road right in front of the bowling alley (as you are heading into Trader Joe’s parking garage). That is a nightmare after they built that new complex with the LA fitness in it. Funny, the construction crew repaired the street right in front of the new building, but the repair ends exactly at the property line – even though the trucks and equipment tore up the road along the entire block.

WSB February 15, 2016 (6:20 pm)

That’s 39th between Oregon and Fauntleroy/Alaska.

Trickycoolj February 15, 2016 (7:43 pm)

Oh don’t worry there’s about 7 new ones on Sylvan that need reported. I feel pretty sure they ignore my reports from the app. They patch one hole on Sylvan and ignore the other 10 up and down that hill. They had to drive in one way or the other! There’s also a lamp post at a 45 degree angle that I’ve reported twice after it was hit by a car over a year ago next to my work and they have yet to deal with it.

Koni February 15, 2016 (7:44 pm)

My husband noticed recently that “Bruce” the pothole was back on 35th near Mt. St. Vincent and the totem pole….watch out, he is a tire killer! :)

ACG February 15, 2016 (8:32 pm)

Thanks! Just submitted the report!!

Eileen February 15, 2016 (8:49 pm)

Love the photos!!

Sage K. February 15, 2016 (9:05 pm)

Drove up Sylvan the other day and it’s a hot mess. That whole uphill stretch needs to be repaved.

bee February 15, 2016 (9:35 pm)

What can be done about the lumps and bumps and dips left across streets when contractors dig during construction projects? Who do I report that to? Are private companies asked to return streets to the way they were?

MsD February 15, 2016 (10:43 pm)

Yeah, no. Apparently the construction companies/developers do as they please. The areas where private development has gone in on my block (4 sites), as well as the alley (that will be the only access point for an additional 75+ cars) is completely torn up and shoddily “repaired” by private construction companies. The City absolutely, unequivocally does not care. I’m sure the thinking is that we shouldn’t be driving cars on the streets/alleys anyway.

Lola February 16, 2016 (8:11 am)

It is not so much potholes as it is the long lines indented into the street from all of the construction trucks coming into West Seattle. Behind the junction by Wells Fargo Bank is a really big one that I must go over ever day. It is getting bigger and I must navigate my car just so that I do not have my tire fall into one of the crevices. Many more on California ave. as well. The ones that they have so called fixed are worse then before.

Tom February 16, 2016 (8:32 am)

Delridge from around Graham all the way to the WS bridge is in constant state of potholes, various fills, and is just bumpy as all get out. It could really use a resurfacing.

Marty February 16, 2016 (8:43 am)

I guess we need a higher gas tax! (Sarcasm)

bolo February 16, 2016 (11:00 am)

Cute photo concept. But the problem runs deeper than that. Most all the potholes I have reported have been filled with a few tablespoons of asphalt patch, only to deteriorate quickly thereafter. The streets are in severe need of more serious rework, the pothole patching is mostly just a feelgood gesture.

Agree also on the tendency of the pothole rangers to ignore holes needing fixed at the approach or immediate area to the reported location.

Also it appears the city depends solely on citizens’ reporting to identify potholes; sometimes it feels like I am taking on a secondary (volunteer) career!

Julia February 16, 2016 (11:04 am)

As the photo-scene was taken in an alley, it brings up my concern that the city apparently does not maintain alleys at all. I don’t understand how they can use them for garbage pick-up with giant trucks, yet not claim any responsibility. I made the mistake of trying to go south down the alley from the Southwest Library and wished I had 4-wheel-drive.

jdlcmh February 16, 2016 (12:16 pm)

Coming from the midwest it is laughable how terrible the roads are here. I used to dread spring when it was construction season and the cities would publish their list of all the roads to be re-paved. Now I miss knowing the roads wouldn’t be so bad ALL of the time. Here that list seems to be just a few roads every year, and mostly just patch work. When I hit freshly paved roads I tend to think something is wrong with the car since it’s so quiet all of a sudden.

wetone February 16, 2016 (4:27 pm)

City is letting West Seattle and many other area roads fall apart. Then making small repairs with asphalt product that literally washes away in wet conditions causing more damage to road base, any hole patched will return when it rains. A bad deal for ones using roads along with environment. City holds home owners accountable for proper repair (concrete not asphalt) with any work involving roadway and in timely fashion, not so with developers and city itself. Large trucks, big rigs and especially garbage trucks causing much of the damage. But hey don’t worry, I’m hear Mayor Murray and SDOT Scott Kubly are working on a new levy plan coming soon with promises of fixing roads and infrastructure properly….. levy for funding homeless programs….. levy to fund hiring of more police officers…… levy to fund more transit…… levy for funding Pronto bike program……..levy for……. Have lost all faith in city leaders being capable of spending monies as promised and responsibly. Really need outside audit to figure out how and where monies going….

Chris February 16, 2016 (5:17 pm)

If you voted for Murray and Herbold then you got what you asked for. They don’t like cars and fixing the roads isn’t their priority, but there’s $50M for the homeless and the mayor today announced money for an artist space in Union Station. No money for roads, unless it’s for making it more difficult for cars to get around or reducing parking.

MsD February 17, 2016 (1:26 am)

Roads get potholes from normal wear and tear, I get that. What I don’t understand is how private developers can come in and tear the roads apart, block traffic and parking for months on end, then get by with not repaving the streets and alleys properly and leaving a huge mess. Does the City of Seattle operate via the typical Seattle thing of “Oh, we’ll just give them a tight-lipped, stern look and hope they do the right thing “? I was on the East Coast recently, and it was refreshing to encounter people saying what they wanted and expected in no uncertain terms.