Map Indicates a Pothole Ranger's Work is Never Done

Occasionally I discuss the failing condition of Seattle streets, and I know some of you out there think that I am exaggerating. So let me present Exhibit A (photo, right), the city's interactive "Pothole Repair Status" map as of today. 

The green dots represent recently filled potholes, magenta is work in progress, and blue are "pending" potholes. 

On the one hand, this represents an incredible amount of work being done--SDOT says they repaired 1,365 potholes in one week alone, January 24 to 30, and in December the total was 2,584.

Of course SDOT also got 240 new repair requests that last week of January as well. You can make your own pothole repair request online, and that link is not just for potholes. You can also note problems with street signs and signals, and damaged sidewalks. Now is the time to do it, because it's good repair weather. A downcast Cliff Mass reports:

The weather will decline a bit starting mid-day tomorrow, with some light rain on and off into the weekend, but next week guess what? ANOTHER big ridge develops in the eastern Pacific and we dry out AGAIN. Pathetically little snow from these weak systems. No floods. No real winds. No real nothing.

Potholes are often presented as a fact of life, given Northwest winter weather, but that's not necessarily the case. SDOT's site informs you: "Potholes will not usually form on pavement that is in good condition, that keeps water out from under the pavement, and that is designed for the type of traffic that uses it."

For much of Seattle's roadways, none of the above is true, which is why after heavy rains we have a pothole map that looks like Seattle has contracted a terrifying attack of the measles. It's also why some of you have noticed your pothole repair request is being ignored.

Besides cases where SDOT is not allowed to make the repair (utilities, raintracks), there's also a category for "can’t be repaired as a pothole," that includes everything having to do with end-stage street failure. The short answer is that if the road would need to be repaved, and if it's a residential street, be prepared to wait several years because SDOT's repaving money is prioritized for arterials.

Barring the city coming into a surprise inheritance, that situation is not likely to change until existing road maintenance takes priority over new projects.