Thursday, February 17, 2011

FIXING THOSE POTHOLES

In addition to the $190.4 million that is allocated in the city's budget for filling potholes and repairing roads, the city has now allocated an additional $2 million for overtime pay for Department of Transportation (DOT) crews to fill the potholes and repair roads. Crews will be working longer hours on twenty weekdays and will also work on ten weekend days through April.

DOT filled over 50% more potholes from January 1st through February 14th than it did during the same time period in 2010. On Tuesday, February 15th, 3,859 potholes were filled, and yesterday, February 16th, 3,693 were filled.

Still, many more potholes need to be filled. The extended working hours will allow an additional 40,000 potholes to be repaired as well as approximately 30,000 square yards of strip paving (targeted paving work at locations that need more than just a pothole repair).

To report a pothole, use the form on DOT's website. To file a claim for damage to a vehicle caused by a pothole or other roadway defect, use the form on the Comptroller's website or call (212) 669-3500.