If you're noticing more potholes in Cincinnati right now, you're not alone.
The city has received more complaints from residents concerning potholes this year than in the last four years, officials said.
Mayor Aftab Pureval announced a plan to tackle the issue during a press conference Wednesday.
"There are just too many potholes on our streets right now, and this has a serious impact on Cincinnati's ability to feel safe and comfortable getting around our city," Pureval said.
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Why are there so many potholes now?
Potholes are caused by the expansion and contraction of roads during the freeze-thaw cycle. The pavement weakens further as the process repeats.
Potholes often appear in late winter and early spring due to the temperature change.
The erratic and severe weather patterns the city has experienced this winter has contributed to the severity of Cincinnati's potholes, said road superintendent Jarrod Bolden.
The region has seen heavy rainfall, ice storms, and snow followed by periods of warm temperatures, exacerbating the problem, officials said.
"If you have water that gets into cracks or deteriorated roadways and it expands, that's what causes a pothole. This winter, we've had some weather that has really contributed to that," Bolden said.
Pureval said the heavy rain has been making it hard for crews to make repairs because dry conditions are necessary for crews to apply the temporary cold patches that would be followed in warm weather with hot asphalt.
Another added challenge crews face is how early pothole season came this year. The hot asphalt used to make the repairs is in limited supply at the moment since factories don't make it until early spring, Pureval said.
Are there more potholes this year?
Bolden said this is the first year Cincinnati has had more than 2,000 pothole repair requests.
Between Feb. 1 and Feb. 20, the city has received 1,496 Pothole service requests, 425 more than the 1,071 requests made in March 2019.
According to city data, service requests increased after Cincinnati was hit with an ice storm on Feb. 4.
The neighborhoods with the most pothole requests to fill include Westwood, West Price Hill and Oakley, according to city data.
What is the city doing to fix the potholes?
The city will increase the number of crews working to fix potholes and require mandatory overtime if needed, officials said. Twenty crews will work extra shifts and address the backlog of service requests.
Officials noted that the same crews that pre-treat, salt and plow Cincinnati's streets also handle the pothole requests.
Crews have been out Wednesday and Thursday preparing for freezing rain and possible ice slated to hit the region Friday.
"The challenge we have continues to be the weather. Once there's a respite from that weather and once conditions allow, we'll be all hands on deck to address this issue," Pureval said.
City council has agreed to prioritize funding to address this issue, Councilmember Greg Landsman said at Wednesday's press conference.
"We are putting all the resources we have into filling these potholes. As budget chair, I can say now with confidence, having had every member of council vote yesterday to prioritize funding for public safety and public services, including these potholes. So whatever resources this administration needs to get these potholes filled as quickly as possible, they'll have," Landsman said.
Residents living in the city of Cincinnati can report potholes by calling 513-591-6000 or through the city's mobile app. You can file a claim for damage at that same number.
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