Long awaited San Francisco pothole repairs begin after heavy rain season

Bay City News Service

May 8, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - The San Francisco Department of Public Works (DPW) is kicking off the 2006 pothole-filling season with an increased budget of $300,000, courtesy of the San Francisco mayor's office.

The DPW will spend $1.5 million this fiscal year to repair potholes and patch paving in San Francisco, according to Christine Falvey, a spokeswoman for the department of public works. The DPW has received 1,035 pothole complaints to-date this fiscal year.

With record-breaking rainfall this winter, workers will be busy making roadway repairs around the city over the next few weeks.

"This season's heavy rains have made it imperative, now more than ever, that we direct appropriate funding to street maintenance and pothole repair," San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said in a statement. "This new funding will not only ensure that our potholes get repaired, but that our streets are safe for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians."

The DPW may receive another $100,000 next fiscal year in order to stay on top of the pothole problems in San Francisco.

According to the DPW, the pothole and patch program uses approximately 4,000 tons of asphalt that comes from the DPW-run asphalt plant.

Pothole reports can be called into the DPW's customer service line at (415) 28-CLEAN.

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