Washington ranks highest in the nation for pothole related web searches
Feb 3, 2022, 2:19 PM
Seattle Department of Transportation's "pothole rangers" at work. (Photo courtesy SDOT via Flickr)
(Photo courtesy SDOT via Flickr)
Flat tire on the way to work this morning from uneven surface streets? That’s a problem often found in Washington, which ranked first in the country for pothole related Google searches, going back to 2004.
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That data, according to Google search analysis, found that Washington searched potholes on the internet the most often, followed by Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska and Ohio.
When that data is broken down at the city level, Washington state boasts three cities among the top five worst pothole offenders: Yakima, Spokane, and, yes, Seattle.
The Seattle Department of Transportation uses a process called slurry-sealing to fix a pothole, using crushed rock and concrete to spot-repair streets that are not due for a complete resurfacing. Every year, several neighborhoods are selected for service under the slurry-seal program.
“Whether you’re taking transit, you’re walking, you’re biking, or you’re rolling on our streets, we’re trying to make them safe for you to travel to wherever you need to go,” SDOT’s Miriam Ali told KIRO Newsradio’s Chris Sullivan.
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Potholes can be reported at any time using the city’s “Find It, Fix it” app.
The app allows anyone to report a pothole with a photo upload function and interactive map. Other service requests can be made as well, including for clogged storm drains, reporting parking violations, or damage to a city park.
“If your streets are not up to par, just let us know so we can come and fix it up,” Ali continued.
SDOT reports that its pothole rangers had a successful year in 2021, filling in more than 14,000 potholes through November 2021, 85% of which were filled within three business days of being reported.
