West Seattle snow aftermath: Mayor’s pothole plan

Now the official city statements are flying in. We just added one from Council President Richard Conlin to our post from this morning, which followed our e-mail exchange with him about what the City Council plans to do to examine the snowstorm-response woes (read the new addition, with extra details on hearing/meeting plans, here). And moments later, in came this news release from the mayor’s office regarding post-snow pothole problems:

Mayor Greg Nickels today encouraged residents to call the city’s pothole repair hotline at 684-ROAD (684-7623) as the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) turns to clean-up operations after a series of winter storms.

When he began as Mayor, Nickels pledged the city would fill any pothole within 48-hours. That commitment remains today, as four crews of Pothole Rangers dedicated to pavement repair are currently dispatched across the city.

“Ice and snow are not kind to city streets, but we’re providing relief to smooth out the ride,” said Nickels. “We’re asking the public to tell us where to go first, and we’ll add additional Pothole Rangers if needed to get the job done.”

Asphalt is best poured in dry conditions. With intermittent rain forecast for Seattle, SDOT is filling most potholes with “cold mix” – asphalt and gravel. SDOT will return in warmer weather to pour a more permanent solution.

SDOT responds to residents’ calls first, and then will fix potholes spotted by city crews.

If you see a pothole crew in action in West Seattle, please send a photo – editor@westseattleblog.com – we’ll be on the lookout too.

19 Replies to "West Seattle snow aftermath: Mayor's pothole plan"

  • Aim December 29, 2008 (3:45 pm)

    “When he began as Mayor, Nickels pledged the city would fill any pothole within 48-hours. That commitment remains today, as four crews of Pothole Rangers dedicated to pavement repair are currently dispatched across the city.”

    They are KIDDING, right? First Ave S in the 2400 block had a pothole for nearly a year. It was well over 10 feet wide by 3 feet across, and was down to the exposed brick.

    Drive down Delridge any day of the week and you won’t have to look hard for potholes.

    And our alley was “re-graded” about 2 months ago to eliminate severe potholes (a foot or more deep in spots!) and it was just as bad two weeks later. ALL the potholes had returned to the same spots because they weren’t filled properly.

    48 hours is baloney. Maybe on HIS street.

  • Rick December 29, 2008 (4:18 pm)

    Just drive Fauntleroy from Cal Ave towards downtown and hold on to your fillings! The policy is if I ignore it, it isn’t a problem. Grade B!!!!

  • JM December 29, 2008 (4:50 pm)

    Uh, the policy is within 48 hour OF SOMEONE REPORTING IT. Did Aim ever TELL the city about the potholes s/he cites? Do people expect the city to be able to psychically see every pothole in the city?

    Personally, I have called the pothole hotline or used the pothole reporting web page at least a dozen times in the past couple of years and the pothole is ALWAYS filled within a couple of days.

    Whiners who expect things to happen when they themselves take no action to help drive me nuts.

  • Findlay December 29, 2008 (4:52 pm)

    I’d also like to know the plan to repair the lane markers/designations again on our 4 lane surface streets (i.e. 35th Ave SW). Really hard to see where I need to be driving!

  • Aim December 29, 2008 (5:05 pm)

    JM you’re making HUGE assumptions that I didn’t make any reports. I take huge offense at you calling me a “whiner.” I am anything but. Maybe you get action on your potholes because you’re wealthy, or live in Admiral, since we’re making ASSumptions.

  • d December 29, 2008 (5:17 pm)

    Ok, so 16th Ave SW just north of SSCC, but south of the Dawson curve, has what appears to be a new, or maybe just much bigger pothole. I called my pothole/reservoir in at 5:10 pm. I’ll let ya’ll know how SDOT does.

    The guy who took my call was very nice, btw.

    Just sayin’.

  • sam December 29, 2008 (5:28 pm)

    D-
    Ha ! – wonder if they’ll be able to figure our which one you are talking about. maybe they’ll patch all of them !

    I’ve found them to be pretty responsive in the past.
    didn’t time them, so don’t know if it was 48 hours but was definitely within a week.
    their online form for reporting is easy to use too

    http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/potholereport.htm

  • soclwrkinmotn December 29, 2008 (5:43 pm)

    Well, strangely enough, I have sent e-mails and called regarding potholes.

    Haven’t had much response.

    Is because it is on Delridge? Or on the White Center border? Believe me, after putting my car out of alignment on Delridge (and I have the luxury of being able to repair it–others don’t) I called it in. It seems to still exist.

    Maybe it is a magical pothole?

  • WSB December 29, 2008 (5:45 pm)

    Will you e-mail me the location of the pothole(s) in question that you have reported and gotten no traction on? I will get out there once it’s light tomorrow and get a photo and we can do a little story about the magically unfixed pothole.
    editor@westseattleblog.com

  • JoB December 29, 2008 (5:53 pm)

    it does seem that there is one standard for west of 35th and another for east of 35th.. we definately noticed it when we moved across the invisible line…

    Just because things reported on one side of the line get prompt action.. doesn’t mean they get the same on the other side.

    anyone remember where the pools were open this summer?

    what i want to know is where the invisible north south line is… i am sure it is this side of Roxbury.

    my guess is that those who are quick to label others on this blog whiners because their reality doesn’t match the complaints they see… live on the “right” side of those invisible lines…

  • WSB December 29, 2008 (5:56 pm)

    For new WSB’ers, the pool story JoB mentions is here:
    https://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=8810

    and the followup (a small battle finally won, three weeks later)
    https://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=9412

  • Aim December 29, 2008 (6:42 pm)

    Email sent. Thanks, TR!

  • LyndaB December 29, 2008 (11:52 pm)

    i’d like to second findlay’s remark about lane markers. one of the victims of snowplowing. RIP but at least we can have them resurrected.

  • M December 30, 2008 (12:05 am)

    Any word on when they plan to start cleaning up all the sand? I still see big piles of it blocking the bike lanes around West Seattle, and those are a big hazard as well for bikes and cars.

  • WSB December 30, 2008 (12:11 am)

    First time I heard that answered, it was “with a street sweeper when the weather dries out.” The “snirt” (thanks again to the commenter who shared that Midwestern term – snow+dirt) has to finish melting, too. However, I will ask SDOT tomorrow – I am compiling a list of “loose ends” questions to ask (the lane markers are on that list too) – TR

  • Sue December 30, 2008 (7:14 am)

    Usually when I’ve reported potholes (using the online form) I have had a very quick response – once it was actually same day. Occasionally I have to contact them a second time, but generally my experience has been good.

  • Sue December 30, 2008 (7:16 am)

    As for the lane markers, I thought their method of using rubber plows was supposed to protect them? So they don’t use metal tips which would’ve gotten the road down to the pavement instead of snowpack, and yet we still have lane markers gone? Seems that if they need to replace lane markers anyway that they might just want to use a different plow. Well, on those rare occasions they actually plow anyway …

  • sam December 30, 2008 (8:36 am)

    JoB-
    yeah- sometimes I think there is a little bit of the right side/ wrong side of 35th attitude, but the potholes I reported that got a quick response were on the “wrong” side.

    SW Orchard between Dumar and Myrtle. though that stretch of road really just needs to be replaced, rather than re-filling potholes.

    as far as being on the “wrong” side- yeah- I was a little annoyed about the whole Xmas at the junction on Sundays, the last two of which were all snowed in.

    sure, the people who can walk to the junction could still get there, but for those of us on the “wrong” side, we missed out on seeing Santa……
    I guess I know who the Junction assoc. wants to shop there…
    sorry to go off on a tangent; I’m done.

  • Steve December 30, 2008 (3:49 pm)

    I think it’s ironic that all down 16th past SSCC, they’ve installed speed bumps, but neglected to fill in the horrific, wheel-shredding, tire-eating potholes. I know they’re worried about people taking the blind, downhill, decreasing radius turn and barreling through the section below, but please, let’s fix the roads before we start “enhancing” them.

Sorry, comment time is over.