Thousands of Potholes Repaired before Potholepalooza Campaign and How to Report One

Photo by PoPville flickr user JoshBassett|PHOTOGRAPHY

From the Mayor’s Office:

“Mayor Vincent C. Gray and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced today that the District has reacted to an exceptionally cold winter by filling more than 5,700 potholes throughout the city in 2014. District residents and commuters are encouraged to continue reporting potholes to guide DDOT crews as they continue filling potholes, weather permitting.

In January, DDOT worked to fill 3,213 potholes, with more than 2,500 potholes addressed in February. DDOT’s response to pothole-related service requests has been swift; the agency boasts a three-day turnaround time for filling potholes after they have been reported, leading the way among transportation departments in the Washington metropolitan region.

This year’s Potholepalooza will start in mid-to-late March, when ground temperatures are consistently above freezing. As part of this campaign, DDOT will add extra crews to fill potholes and aims to repair identified locations within 48 hours (the normal response time is within 72 hours).

How to report a pothole

Residents and commuters can notify DDOT in a variety of ways:

1.     Call the Mayor’s Call Center at 311;

2.     Use the Online Service Request Center at 311.dc.gov;

3.     Use the District’s new DC311 smartphone application.

Those who report potholes should identify the precise location, including the correct quadrant (NW, NE, SW or SE) of the District, and provide as much detail as possible about the hazard (including the approximate size and depth of the pothole).

DDOT crews will also be out and about proactively identifying potholes.”