The ruts in the pavement on 21st SW near the hairpin turn heading on the way up to Holden Street SW are only going get worse without some attention. SDOT is working getting the routes ready that have pressed into heavier than normal service by the closure of the West Seattle Bridge.
Photo by Patrick Robinson
Information from Seattle Department of Transportation
SDOT continually works to fill potholes throughout the year. Our goal is to fill 90% of potholes within three business days of when they are reported to us. Whenever we receive a report, our crews will also check the area for any other potholes to fill. We filled 18,000 potholes in 2019 and 11,000 potholes from Jan. 1 to Jul. 31, 2020. That includes nearly 1,200 potholes filled in West Seattle and the other nearby neighborhoods this year.
While we are always doing the best we can to respond to potholes quickly, we face a big challenge in that new potholes are continuously appearing throughout the year. Winter weather like rain, snow, and ice all cause significant damage to our roads as water finds its way into cracks in the pavements and literally erodes the pavement from the inside. We work year round to fill these potholes, however asphalt doesn’t bind as well to the surrounding pavement when it’s too cold or wet. So many of the potholes we fill in the winter often degrade over the coming months, which is why we also see so many new potholes develop in the same spots during the spring and summer.
This is why it is so important for the public to let us know when they see a new pothole, because filling potholes is an ongoing task season after season. People can report potholes online, by calling 206-684-ROAD, emailing 684-ROAD@seattle.gov, or by using the Find It, Fix It app. You can also check our progress as we continue to repair our roads on our interactive pothole repair status map.
