Minneapolis OKs more spending on its 'pothole problem'

Home
Local

Minneapolis OKs more spending on its 'pothole problem'

Article by: PAUL WALSH , Star Tribune
Updated: April 1, 2011 - 10:34 PM

Minneapolis taps rainy day fund, saying: "Now, it's pouring."

hide

Potholes are abundant in downtown Minneapolis

Photo: Jim Gehrz, Star Tribune

Camera Star Tribune photo galleries

Camera view larger

66
comments
resize text
print
buy reprints

Tweet
share

email
Email share

your name

your email

recipients email

+ add a comment add a comment

Up to $1 million will be available to accelerate pothole repair on many of Minneapolis' craggy streets.

The City Council's vote to approve the extra money Friday means crews should be patting down permanent asphalt patches as soon as Tuesday. Thoroughfares will come first, then side streets.

In announcing the funding, the city pinned the "significant pothole problem" on the harsh winter that is pretty much in the rearview mirror of Minneapolis' jostled motorists.

"We all drive the same streets that our constituents drive," said Council Member Betsy Hodges, who proposed the funding increase.

This is the second consecutive year that the city has bolstered its patching crews in response to driver complaints about potholes. The number of crews on crater patrol will double from four to eight.

Nearly half of the funding is coming from money left over from the city's 2010 budget. The rest will come from the accelerated five-year program to make more permanent repairs to city streets by repaving them.

The money comes from a "rainy day fund," Hodges said. "Now, it's pouring."

To report a pothole for repairs, call 311, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Reports can also be made online at www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/311.

The Public Works Department uses reports from the public, as well as staff observations in the field, to prioritize repair needs.

Katherine Lymn, a University of Minnesota student on assignment for the Star Tribune, contributed to this report. Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482