Pothole Patrol: Report Potholes, Be Reimbursed For Damage
NBC 4 Pothole Patrol
Find out what you can do to report troublesome potholes and how you could be reimbursed if your vehicle is damaged by a pothole.now
COLUMBUS, Ohio —Wintry weather affects drivers in more than one way: It’s wreaking havoc on the roads and helping along potholes.
NBC 4 gets answers on what you can do and who you can call to get the problem spots fixed.
When a pothole takes a driver by surprise, vehicle damage can be the end result.
“They’re deep in some spots,“ said driver Eric Hawks. “I had to change my car and shocks and tires a few months ago.“
Three Columbus city crews roamed the city Monday to fill potholes with cold patch. Five more crews were out filling potholes Tuesday, according to city officials.
Cold patch is a temporary fix that’s used when temperatures are below freezing.
A city spokesperson said a more permanent hot-patch mixture will be used when the weather is warmer.
Columbus residents can call the city’s 311 hotline at 614-645-3111 to report potholes. Residents also can send an e-mail to 311@columbus.gov .
Columbus Public Service Department’s Rick Tilton said the city is receiving calls about potholes that aren’t in the city’s jurisdiction.
Tilton said the 311 hotline can be used to report potholes on Columbus city streets, state Route 315 and state Route 104. The Ohio Department of Transportation handles potholes on Interstate 70, Interstate 71, Interstate 270 and Interstate 670.
Crews try to fix problem spots within three days of a report, but city officials said it can take longer if there are many reports.
“I think they do a better job in the alleys than they do actually the street,“ Hawks said. “The streets definitely need more work.“
City officials encouraged residents to call the 311 hotline to report potholes.
Otherwise, the problem will not be logged in the database and progress will not be tracked.
Residents also can call the 311 hotline if their vehicle is damaged after hitting a pothole.
If that pothole already has been reported and city crews have not fixed it within a “reasonable” amount of time, you could be reimbursed for the cost of repairs.
However, a representative from the Columbus City Attorney’s office said a reasonable amount of time could be longer than the expected three days, depending on weather and other circumstances. If that pothole wasn’t reported previously, you cannot file for a claim.
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