Mayor Peduto Orders 72-Hour "Pothole Blitz"

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- They're big, deep and nasty -- and they're all over the place.

The pothole season has hit early and hard in Pittsburgh and throughout the region -- city and county public works are responding to double the number of complaints -- as wet weather and radical swings in temperatures have given us a bumper crop of craters.

KDKA's Heather Abraham Reports:

"This type we have in this region -- the freeze/thaw -- any time you have freeze/thaw you're going to have potholes," Pittsburgh Public Works Director Rob Kaczorowski said.

A drive around the city's East End illustrates the dangers to your car and safety, as well as just how bad the problem has become -- the streets have taken on a lunar quality. The situation is so severe, Mayor Bill Peduto has ordered a 72-hour pothole blitz.

"He's ordered the blitz," Kaczorowski said. "He wants all hands on deck. He wants everybody we can to put on it and we're going to get out there and patch potholes."

Kaczorowski also joined the KDKA Morning News with Larry Richert and John Shumway for a detailed conversation on the "pothole blitz".

Mel Siegel, of Shadyside, had been out of town and came home to a surprise.

"I drove for the first time on Sunday and I fell into about eight potholes like that one," Siegel said.

KDKA's David Highfield Reports:

Patch crews were out all over the city Tuesday, but beginning this morning their numbers will be doubled and working 'round the clock.

There will be 17 crews by day and 10 crew working all night. The goal is to fill an estimated 400 to 500 potholes by the weekend.

And patchers like Robert Byrd say their up to the task.

"We'll do what we can and get it together and hopefully people will be satisfied," he said.

KDKA's Andy Sheehan Reports:

Click here if you'd like to report a pothole in the City of Pittsburgh!

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