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Portland transportation officials start campaign to repair potholes around city

The project will send seven crews around Portland to fill holes and fix paving problems. Normally, two crews work the streets in the spring.

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) announced a new campaign on Friday to increase pothole repairs across Portland.

Potholes are a problem in the city, but not a new one. 

Joe Stanek lives off 82nd Avenue, near Hawthorne. He said his street hasn't been maintained for decades.

"It was repaved the last time in '72 or '73," Stanek said.

Stanek recently got a flyer on his door from PBOT saying his road would be closed for "street grinding and resurfacing."

"I thought it was about time," Stanek said. "I’ve been complaining on PBOT’s website for a long time."

Stanek's street is one of 20 that will be milled and repaved in the next two weeks during PBOT's March Madness campaign. 

The project will send seven crews around the city to fill holes and fix paving problems. Normally, two crews work the streets in the spring. 

"We know that our streets are generally falling into poorer condition than they used to be in the past," said Hannah Schafer, a spokesperson for PBOT. "This storm really made a big difference. We're really trying to get out there and address some of the problems."

Schafer said the snow and ice storm that hit Portland in late January heavily contributed to issues on the street. PBOT received over 1,000 pothole reports in January of this year, which is about 200 more than January 2023. PBOT has already filled close to 2,000 potholes, as of Feb. 26, according to Schafer.

The campaign will largely take place east of 82nd Avenue, where Stanek lives. He's gratefu,l but thinks the campaign should go much further.

"It's kind of been assumed that anything on this side of 82nd doesn’t matter," Stanek said. "I would like to see Hawthorne done and Clay and Madison. I mean none of the streets around here are in very good shape."

Schafer said problems on the east side of town often go unreported. 

"We see reports from the city all over, but we actually get fewer reports from location east of 82nd Avenue," Schafer said. "We want to get out and help serve the folks who live east of 82nd."

Report potholes and damaged pavement online at www.pdxreporter.org, via email at pdxroads@portlandoregon.gov, or by calling 503-823-1700.

View PBOT's interactive pothole map here: Potholes Reported & Repaired (arcgis.com)

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