[Archived] City of Alexandria Devotes Additional Resources to Pothole Repair

For Immediate Release: March 19, 2018

Following a harsh winter season, the City of Alexandria has devoted additional resources to pothole repair. By adding additional staff overtime, the City aims to repair each pothole within 72 hours of receiving a report. When the City's spring pothole blitz begins on March 25, most potholes will be repaired within 48 hours of report.

"We are seeing a record number of potholes this season, and we are taking action to address the problem," said City Manager Mark Jinks. "We ask residents and businesses to look out for and report potholes so we can repair them as soon as possible."

Potholes form when water seeps into tiny cracks in pavement and expands during freezing temperatures. Record rainfall and significant temperature swings this past winter have resulted in more potholes than usual. The City has received 619 reports of potholes in the last 10 weeks alone, compared to 774 for all of Fiscal Year 2018.

As crews work to repair potholes, they will focus attention on areas that have been hit especially hard and will perform significant patching. After the pothole repair program ends for the season, the City will resume its annual street repaving program, which involves curb-to-curb resurfacing. The City will also begin a Pavement Condition Index inspection, conducted every three years, to analyze the condition of every public street. The information from this inspection will be used to update the City's paving schedule and measure the success of pothole and repaving efforts.

To report a pothole, use Call.Click.Connect. 24 hours a day or call 703.746.HELP (4357) during normal business hours. For more information about the City's pothole repair efforts or paving program, visit alexandriava.gov/Potholes.

For media inquiries, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.