Results tagged “potholes”

The beginning of spring is the time of year when potholes pop up on city streets the most; asphalt expanding and contracting with fluxuating temperatures lead directly to cracks and gaps in our roads. So it's no big surprise that new acting director of the District Department of Transportation, Gabe Klein, today announced this year's pothole filling blitz alongside Mayor Adrian Fenty. That Fenty and Klein decided to rename this year's program "Potholepalooza" is, however, plenty funny. We assume the 'palooza part is necessary to combat the oncoming Potholepocalypse. Can DCist start suggesting other names for city government programs, too? How about a summertime Ratastrophe initiative as part of the District's War on Rats?

The Examiner's Michael Neibauer trotted out an evergreen story this morning on how the District government urges all citizens to report potholes to the city's Service Request Center, either by calling 311 or filling out an online form. There is a nice little news peg included in the story, however: "The most calls come in March, once the ice and snow melts and the temperatures creep up to springtime levels. But the numbers will rise after a storm or, as happened several times last month, a water main break." If water main breaks can cause potholes, we could be on a path to set a new pothole record already this year.

As any cyclist in the District can tell you, there really isn't anything much worse than the rough, potholed pavement that dots many of the city's main traffic arteries. From the jarring jolts to the inevitable pinch flats, crappy roads make cycling in the city a holy pain.