Report a street defect   Streets Department Prepares for Pothole Season

IS IT A POTHOLE?   Can a hole by any other name still be  called a hole?   Not necessarily.  A hole in the road surface can be a pothole, a utility ditch or a cave-in.

 

POTHOLES are bowl-shaped openings that usually have raveled edges and can be up to 10 inches deep. They occur when the top layer or asphaltic surface of the roadway has worn away, exposing the concrete base (Example). Customer Service Standard: Response time of three business days (Requests reported by 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, and found on City streets will be repaired within three business days) Redress - The Streets Department will notify customer if pothole repair is not made within three days. CAVE-INS (sometimes called sinkholes) are holes that reach past the concrete base of the roadway. This void can occur when the dirt below the concrete base has washed away, causing the upper surfaces to fall through (Example).   Repairs to cave-ins entail repairing the subsurface of the roadway and may involve repairs by property owners and/or other utility agencies (Water Department, PGW, PECO, cable utilities). Every effort is made to address permanent restoration in a timely manner.   DITCHES are rectangular excavations in the roadway. These cuts are made by utilities and plumbers to reach underground lines. The contractors are responsible for filling the ditch and paving it temporarily, and notifying the city upon completion of their work. The Highways Division then schedules a permanent repair to the roadway. If a ditch is not backfilled properly, it will wash out or sink in, leaving a large hole (Example).   Customer Service Standard: Response time of 45 business days (July 1 to November 30)  From November 30th to June 30th the Streets Department will permanantly repair as weather permits. In the meantime, the Streets Department will keep the ditch in a safe condition.

WHO DO I CALL ABOUT POTHOLES?   LOCATION AGENCY & CONTACT INFO City Street Streets Department Customer Affairs Unit Phone: (215) 686-5560, *FIX (cell phones) Web: www.potholes.phila.gov/csstreets State Highway PennDOT Maintenance Hotline Phone: 1-800-FIX-ROAD (349-7623) Map:  Map of State Highways         List of State Streets Trolley Track Area (Inside tracks add 18" on either side) SEPTA Customer Service Phone: (215) 580-7852 Web: www.septa.org

WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT A PROBLEM HOLE? The Highway Division of the Streets Department maintains over 2,500 miles of Public city streets. However, 360 miles of streets within the city limits are actually state highways, maintained by Penn DOT. There are also private streets within the city limits maitained by homeowner associations. Potholes between trolley and train tracs or within 18 inches outside of the tracks, are maintained by SEPTA.   You do not need to know who maintains it in order to report it. we are here to help. Just give us a call. Customer Service Unit 215-686-5560 or 3-1-1   HOW DOES THE HIGHWAYS UNIT DECIDE WHICH POTHOLES SHOULD BE REPAIRED FIRST? Potholes found on major highways, and potholes that are an immediate hazard to motorists or pedestrians, are given primary attention.    HINTS FOR SPEEDY SERVICE CALLS To help expedite your service request, please be prepared with specific information when you contact the Customer Affairs Unit. The more information we have, the better we can serve you. Useful information includes:  Give the exact location. Be prepared to describe the hole. Is the hole on the sidewalk or roadway (driving lane or parking lane)? Size (approximate length/width/depth) Is there a barricade over this hole? Note whether you hear or see water in the hole. Is this a bus route? Is the hole in a trolley track area? Back to Highways