With the radical up and down swings of Houston temperatures, loads of rain, and major traffic the resulting potholes are a major concern of Houston’s population. We now have a great way to make a repair request and track the progress with our Mayor’s Pothole Repair Initiative began in January 2016.
A large contributor to the Initiative is the Pothole Tracker Program on the City of Houston website.
“The goal is to assess and repair potholes reported to the 311 Help and Information Line by the next business day. As part of this effort, we have streamlined operations and put in place improved customer response protocols,” comments Mayor Turner.
Here’s Where You Can Help
If you haven’t done so already, please download the 311 app from iTunes or Google. It’s the fastest way to report potholes and other street conditions. You may also call 311 to submit a report. (If outside Houston, dial 713.837.0311.)
Checking the Results
The results of the Tracking Program are reported daily and are impressive.
100% Citizen reported potholes filled by next business day
125 Citizen reported potholes filled
6,339 City of Houston proactively filled potholes
FAQ
Let’s look at some of the questions citizens have about potholes.
What is a pothole?
A pothole is a hole in the roadway pavement that may very in size and shape. A pothole forms when water has seeped under the pavement and into to road base. As vehicles rune over these weakened areas, the pavement disappears and the hole gets larger.
How do I know if what I’m reporting can be repaired as a pothole or not?
The City doesn’t expect everyone to be able to distinguish among pavement defects and there are many types of road maintenance service that can be requested through 311. Simply report any type of pavement defect that concerns you, especially if it appears hazardous. If it is not a pothole, the City will respond and let you know your request has been elevated to the correct service type.
How many potholes does the City fill?
The City of Houston fills approximately 50,000 potholes annually. More than 6,000 pothole repair requests a year are made by the public.
These repairs are made with asphalt and are normally repaired with a one-person pothole patch truck. This method makes the repair using a liquid asphalt emulsion and small stone aggregate. Usually a repair made by the one-person truck is complete within 15 minutes after the arrival at the location.
What causes a pothole?
Potholes occur when street pavement cracks and breaks because the underlying road base has been compromised, usually by water. Traffic running over this area causes the pothole to grow.
Water can get under the pavement though age cracks or from the side of the road. Over time, the water can cause the material under the pavement to erode, causing the pavement to sink and break.
Dean and Draper
Net time you bounce through a pothole, think about calling 311 and reporting it. When you have questions about insurance, we can help. Call us.
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Sources: City of Houston