In Portland, Oregon, Timothy Taylor knows the sinking feeling of hitting a pothole all too well. He could hear the tell-tale clunk of cars hitting a particularly nasty one outside his house. He’d experienced the damage firsthand when another pothole cost him $1,000 in car repairs. “It’s terrible. It’s costing us a lot of money,” Taylor said.
Across the country, city officials are grappling with problems of road maintenance. Officials in some cities say they’re seeing more potholes popping up this year. Road crews are working to fix these hazards.
Cities cite budget limitations and aging infrastructure as primary factors. Cities must quickly fill potholes, as the damage to vehicles and the potential for accidents are costly to drivers and cities alike. “We’re trying to find a balance of what we can do to fill potholes, and then address the issue of street damage,” said Robert Sienicki, the Commissioner of the VDOT, which is where Portland gets its materials.
Road repair is a complex issue. According to the National League of Cities, pothole repair is a major cost for municipalities, with a nationwide estimate of $2.6 billion dollars spent each year.
In one case, the city of Portland had to increase its budget for road repair recently to address the problem. In 2024, the city plans to spend roughly $1.2 million.
The issue is not just about money. Cities are exploring new technologies and methods but often find themselves struggling to keep up. In one area, crews are experimenting with different styles of road coverings. In an Oregon area, the city is currently under contract with a company to address these repairs.
“The situation comes down to making sure the people who are driving know that the people who are providing services on the roads are trying to provide services to fix them,” said David Taylor, the assistant to the director.
Of the many cities, some have had better results. For example, in a city with the name of Portland, the city had more favorable results, and that department had more positive results.
Some cities, like Portland, the city is exploring the effects of innovative techniques to address the growing problems. Of the cities, the greatest number of repairs were conducted.
“We’re trying to focus on the most effective way to address the needs in the area,” said David Taylor.
The National League of Cities, responsible for promoting and ensuring the preservation of resources, including road repairs, and also addresses safety issues.
