Dear Everyone,
We are all very much aware of how the weather this year has really caused a lot of damage to our streets and roads throughout not only Marion County, but the entire area. I have attached information below about not only for Marion County, but also our State Roads. Please take time to read through this to learn more about what is going on this week while the weather is still relatively mild.
Remember, we do not send out “inspectors” to “discover” pot holes. They get reported because of people like you and me. While I do try my best to report as many as I can throughout our district, I don’t get down every street, and I do only report the ones in our district. Also, what is there today, may not have been there yesterday when I drove on that particular street or road. Please do call in pot holes to the Mayor’s Action Center at 317-327-4MAC throughout Marion County. You may also use your smart phone, and information on that is in the article below. At the bottom of this email is also how to report a pot hole on a State or U.S. Highway. This would include all of our Interstates (I-465, I-65, I-74, etc.) as well as U.S. 40 (Washington Street), U.S. 36 (Rockville Road), & U.S. 136 (Crawfordsville Road) outside of I – 465.
Again, it is because of us that they know about the potholes that need filled. Please do report them as soon as possible. Hopefully we can some of our worse areas done this week with the “hot mix”. This lasts longer than the “cold mix”. But these potholes do need to be reported. Please help me in making sure they are aware of the potholes that need filled!
Sincerely,
Janice McHenry
City-County Councillor District 6
MAYOR HOGSETT CONDUCTS MINI-BLITZ TO ADDRESS POTHOLES THROUGHOUT THE CITY
At 2:00 p.m., Mayor Hogsett and DPW will gather at Keystone Avenue at Hanna Avenue to offer updates on road work and encourage residents to report potholes using the Request Indy app. DPW crews will be patching potholes in the area on Keystone Avenue from Hanna Avenue to Thompson Road.
Beginning today through Thursday, January 26, 20 crews will focus on pothole requests received by the City through the Mayor’s Action Center and Request Indy portal, starting with main thoroughfares and highly traveled locations. DPW crews will be using a hot mix to conduct patching as one asphalt plant has temporarily opened for three days while the weather is temperate.
With precipitation and fluctuating temperatures throughout this winter season, DPW will continue its vigilant pothole patching efforts. The temporary “cold mix” will again be used to fill potholes after Thursday until the asphalt plants officially open this spring.
Additional crews will be located throughout the City including the following locations today:
- 56th Street from Emerson Avenue to Arlington Avenue
- Ditch Road from 73rd Street to 86th Street
DPW would like to remind residents that the city offers multiple ways for residents to report potholes. Citizens can take advantage of the Indy Pothole Viewer, RequestIndy available on smart phones and the Mayor’s Action Center to report pothole requests.
INDOT Ramping up Efforts to Address Potholes
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Temperatures fluctuating above and below freezing the past few weeks have created prime conditions for potholes forming on Indiana roadways.
To deal with potholes in the most aggressive and efficient manner, the Indiana Department of Transportation will allow crews throughout the state to close travel lanes when and where necessary during daytime hours, including during peak travel times for priority repairs.
Where possible, crews will limit their daytime work hours and try to avoid working in travel lanes carrying traffic in the peak direction during peak times. However, motorists may encounter maintenance crews making priority repairs any time of the day or night.
Give them room
Motorists are more likely to encounter workers making road repairs. INDOT makes pothole patching a top priority between snow and ice events. Please be alert while behind the wheel, slow down, and give highway workers safe space to do their jobs. Increase your following distance so you have more time to stop or slow down in a pothole repair zone.
INDOT urges motorists to slow down and stay alert when encountering pothole-patching crews.
How a pothole forms
Cracks develop in pavement from traffic wear and winter freeze-thaw cycles. Potholes begin when water seeps into these cracks and freezes, expanding the layers of pavement, stone and soil. As the ice melts and contracts, heavy highway traffic further loosens the pavement, forming potholes. To learn more, view this video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkGF4JCT3Fg
Pothole patches
With temperatures too low for paving, most of Indiana’s hot-mix asphalt plants are now closed. During the winter INDOT uses cold mix, a mixture of small stone and liquid asphalt, as a temporary patch.
Even after being filled with cold patch, the same pothole can require ongoing maintenance and can reopen several times throughout the winter. When the asphalt plants reopen in the spring, INDOT maintenance crews clean out and then repair potholes with hot mix, providing a smoother, more permanent fix.
Preventing potholes
When INDOT is not clearing snow, ice or storm debris, its crews will focus on maintaining and protecting the state’s roads and bridges. Sealing and repaving projects prevent water from seeping into the pavement and forming potholes.
During the last fiscal year, INDOT awarded contracts to repave 580 miles of state highways, chip-sealed over 1,200 miles and crack sealed more than 5,500 miles.
Report potholes
To report a pothole on a numbered state route, interstate or U.S. highway, contact your regional INDOT district or follow the “Report a Concern” link at potholes.indot.in.gov. For potholes on city streets or county roads, please contact the proper city or county maintenance department.