Do You See Potholes? Stamford Leaders Want You To Report Them

STAMFORD, CT — Have you driven over a pothole recently? Well city leaders want you to report them and they will begin to repair them in earnest on Monday. It sounds simple, and city leaders say it is.

The week of July 15 to July 22 has been dubbed "Pothole Week" in Stamford. Residents are urged to report potholes to Fix It Stamford in preparation for "extensive citywide pothole repairs," which begins Monday.

While residents can report potholes at any time throughout the year, "Pothole Week" marks when the city will begin to repair them in earnest. The event helps city officials identify local potholes so they can devote necessary resources to filling them in over the next few weeks, weather permitting.

The event was originally planned for April, however an anti-fracking ordinance passed by the Board of Representatives last year prevented the city from purchasing asphalt from its local supplier, O&G Industries, Inc., for the fist time ever. Officials said this "significantly slowed the efficiency of Stamford's pothole repairs," resulting in a 60-day backlog of repairs.

The Board amended the ordinance earlier this month, allowing for full operational efficiency of pothole repairs starting Monday.

The city also plans to dedicate additional resources to pothole repairs on the first day the amended ordinance takes effect to reduce backlog and catch up in the ensuing weeks, officials said. The city's objective is to fill all reported potholes in the ensuing weeks.

Residents do not need to resubmit reports made earlier in the year.

"Now that the city can purchase asphalt locally, we're gearing up to eliminate this 60-day backlog as soon as possible," Mayor David Martin said. "Once our local asphalt supplier opens in the spring, our goal is for city crews to fill 90 percent of potholes within five days of when they're reported. Addressing road conditions has been a priority for my administration and
Pothole Week will contribute to my goal to improve our roads."

Pothole repairs will begin Monday and continue over the ensuing weeks. The city completes pothole repairs year-round, however O&G opens in April and closes in November, creating an eight-month window for intensive pothole repairs, officials said. The city also cannot fill potholes when it is raining or snowing.

Though the city does not fill potholes on state roads, residents can still report potholes on them to Fix It Stamford and officials will forward them to the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

State roads in Stamford include:

• Connecticut Turnpike (Route 95)
• High Ridge Road (Route 137)
• Courtland Avenue (Route 106)
• West Main Street (Route 1)
• Merritt Parkway
• Cold Spring Road (from High Ridge Road to Washington Boulevard)
• East Main Street (Route 1)
• South State Street (Greenwich to Elm)
• Long Ridge Road (Route 104)
• Washington Boulevard (Cold Spring Road to Route 95)
• Tresser Boulevard (Route 1)

Further information on potholes and how Stamford responds to them can be found at the city's road maintenance page.