SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - Potholes have been plaguing San Diego streets, and now the city is doing what it can to fix the problem. A pothole hotline is being promoted to process thousands of calls.
Potholes are generating a lot of complaints from drivers, especially after their numbers multiplied following the recent storms. A news release sent out by a city leader last week promised to fix most reported potholes within a week, so News 8 put the "Pothole Patrol" to the test.
Cruising the streets of Kearny Mesa with a camera mounted to our news truck, we found the papa of all potholes in the 6900 Block of Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. The pothole was at least seven feet long and four to five inches deep.
Last Monday we reported the pothole to the city with both a phone message and an internet e-report. Day one, two, three, four, five, six and seven passed without a repair. Just when we thought the story was going to turn into a negative "gotcha piece" the pothole was repaired.
Mario Sierra is the director of the City of San Diego's Transportation & Storm Water Department. When we told him he passed the one week test he responded by saying, "Great, that is exactly what we are supposed to do."
Sierra admitted he was caught off guard, instead of a taking a pothole pounding, his crews got a pat on the back. "The employees deserve it because they work very hard and typically reporters don't go out of their way to report a good story. It's refreshing," Sierra said.
The city currently has a dozen pothole crews roving San Diego's streets. Each year the city repairs 30,000 potholes.
To report a pothole call (619) 527-7500 or use the San Diego Street Division's online Service Request system.
