Hizzoner to declare war on potholes

From a city news release issued late today:

Mayor Greg Nickels will declare open season on potholes at a press conference tomorrow morning, kicking off a campaign by the city’s Pothole Rangers to fill a record number of the axle-bending offenders over the next week.

The mayor will issue a pothole hunting license to all drivers and bikers to flush out the worst potholes in the city and report them to 684-ROAD. He will then join the Rangers as they fill the first pothole in their record-setting attempt.

The press conference is going to be in — no, not West Seattle, our kindred spirit across the bay, Ballard. Which of course means we must hereby show you the best “Almost Live” clip ever:

Eddie March 18, 2008 (8:06 pm)

My offer to take the mayor out pothole-hunting on the back of my tandem bike is still open. I guess I’m not suprised he hasn’t jumped at the offer yet.

Seriously – hope it’s more that a silly publicity stunt and that they are actually able to apply a fix that has some durability to it – unlike the discussion here a month ago about two week (too weak?) pothole fixes.

Mr. JT March 18, 2008 (8:28 pm)

Not to worry Eddie, Its a stunt.

JumboJim March 18, 2008 (9:31 pm)

So just curious, did most of those “Ballard Drivers” move down here?? Some days I wonder…

chas redmond March 18, 2008 (10:11 pm)

Yeah, there’s days here in West Seattle where I feel like i’m in Florida – old folks or others simply driving at a speed a bike would pass and others racing nearly 2/3 faster than the posted limit. Sometimes even on the same street. It’s almost as if some folks actually believe in random continuous good luck. Me, I’m nearly constantly in “attention” mode and it’s, frankly, tiring – which is good since that forces me to only drive when I actually have to. While walking, biking or using transit, it also gives me an opportunity to see how random some other cyclists, peds or drivers can be in their behavior. Think of Mario Brothers.
–
In a way it really is a wonderful live street dance. The additional risk of possible loss of life or limb makes it even more like a reality show. We could even call it something like the Street Follies Opera. In today’s episode: fill in whatever.

sean March 18, 2008 (11:01 pm)

Too bad Nickels does not propose remedies to ease congestion on the Bridge, especially during the morning commute. I’m all for high-density planning, but assume the new condos in the Junction area will have a traffic impact. With no alternative free of surface-street congestion the situation is likely to degenerate.

Also, I do not understand why heavily loaded trucks are allowed to use the eastern span of the bridge, especially during peak traffic hours. There are alternatives to access I-5 both north and south, and merging trucks from the port are one more snarl in an already tangled mess of merges. The trucks cause dangerous situations and must surely decrease the life expectancy of the bridge.

Filling potholes feels great, but some substantive proposals for the future of transportation in this city would feel great too.

chas redmond March 18, 2008 (11:26 pm)

sean, “one pebble at a time.” or, to borrow from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, “Patience, my dear Watson, patience.”

JenV March 19, 2008 (7:44 am)

yes, because it worked SO well the last time he did this….

Frank March 19, 2008 (9:28 am)

Just a question here…
Since the city went to using blacktop to cover city streets instead of concrete, has anyone done a cost analysis of the cost of repairing blacktop streets verses concrete streets?
The initial cost of concrete is more than likely higher, but what about the maintenance costs?
It seems to me that the potholes are a whole heck of a lot more common on blacktop than concrete.
Frank

Jack Loblaw March 19, 2008 (9:30 am)

I think that this is the first of many events to come that are part of the Re-Elect Greg 2009 campaign. Nothing like a good photo op to show that he is really taking care of business ! He is responsible for the death of the monorail which would have actually helped the morning commute. He is trying his best to not replace the Alaskan Way viaduct which will grid lock the morning commute if he succeeds. No wonder people call him Grid Lock Greg. He deserves it. Potholes ! Really does this require the mayor ? By the way I voted for him because he is supposed to be a Democrat but in 2009 I will be voting for whoever the Republican is just to make sure that his term is finished.

Frank March 19, 2008 (10:52 am)

FYI Jack. Elected City positions are non-partisan. You can guess the persons affiliation, but there is no ‘letter’ after their name on the voters pamphlet or on the ballot to denote party affiliation.

Frank

flipjack March 19, 2008 (10:52 am)

I think it’s time for a Mayoral Impeachment.
Impeach Mayor Gridlock NOW!

JenV March 19, 2008 (11:09 am)

Yay for Almost Live and the Ballard Driving Academy! :)

Jack Loblaw March 19, 2008 (11:44 am)

I guess the fact that he has announced that he is supporting Obama is kind of a clue as to his party affiliation:
http://www.gregnickels.com/

dksmith March 19, 2008 (12:14 pm)

sean ~ you got that right. You think the bridge is bad now? Add the folks from the ‘Whole Foods condos’ and all the other new buildings going up and it could potentially be hundreds and hundreds of additional cars on the W-Sea Bridge during premium hours.

Fiona March 19, 2008 (1:14 pm)

luv, luv, luv almost live!! (Now you just have to find a story to incorporate “Mind your manners with Billy Kwon”!) Remember, y’all will be old West Seattle drivers someday too – “Yeah, sure, ya betcha”.