Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

District Works to Repair City Roads

A long-term initiative to repair all Washington, D.C. city roads in poor condition by 2024 is underway, according to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), who announced her initiative for PaveDC last Friday.

The plan consists of road rehabilitation and maintenance, alley repair and construction and sidewalk reconstruction across the city, according to an April 6 news release.

“With PaveDC, we are looking beyond our annual repairs and taking the steps necessary to ensure that by 2024, no roads in Washington, D.C. are in poor condition,” Bowser said, according to the news release. “Our goal is to create a safer, stronger D.C. by building more reliable roads across all eight wards.”

As part of the PaveDC launch Friday, Bowser kicked off the 10th annual Potholepalooza, a monthlong initiative led by the District Department of Transportation to expedite pothole repairs in the city.

Ten DDOT pothole crews have pledged to respond to identified potholes within 48 hours of a submitted request through the end of the month.

SPENCER COOK/THE HOYA D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) announced her initiative for PaveDC last Friday.

The normal response time of 72 hours has been shortened by the process of using hot box equipment to keep asphalt at the proper temperature. Eight new boxes will be used to perform work previously contracted to external companies.

DDOT has filled 1,060 potholes since the launch Friday, according to DDOT Communications Specialist Michelle Phipps-Evans.

Approximately 25 percent of all streets in D.C. have been classified as “poor condition” for the 2018 paving season because of potholes and severe pavement damage, according to DDOT’s website.

DDOT conducts annual assessments to determine efficient work plans for roadways that address the needs of the public, Phipps-Evans said.

“DDOT conducts a pavement condition assessment every year on all federal roadways and every other year on local roads,” Phipps-Evans wrote in an email to The Hoya. “This results in a cost-effective use of funds, and provides maximum benefit to the traveling public by enhancing the safety of the roadway, and improving the drivability of the road surface.”

The annual assessment combines road quality data and community requests to prioritize the roads in need of rehabilitation according to greatest need and highest value to the community.

Assessments — categorizing roads as poor, fair, good or excellent — are held following pavement deterioration because of low temperatures and precipitation in the winter. All roads are visually assessed by DDOT staff to determine the extent of rehabilitation and need for sidewalk repairs before being placed on the list of rehabilitation.

Two hundred ninety-eight street segments are set to be paved during the 2018 paving season and 26 are currently under construction as of April 10, according to the PaveDC website launched by DDOT. The road segments due for resurfacing this season across all wards can be viewed online on the interactive PaveDC map.

The 2018 paving season will only address a portion of the roads assessed to be in poor condition, according to Phipps-Evans.

“By both proactively maintaining the roads currently in good condition while repaving those that are in poor condition over the next six years, DDOT plans to eliminate all poor roads,” Phipps-Evans wrote.

Notices containing information on the repairs and “No Parking” signs will be posted 72 hours prior to the start of scheduled resurfacing work on affected streets.

City residents and commuters are encouraged to submit pothole repair service requests through the mayor’s call center at 311, the online service request website, the District’s DC311 smartphone application or social media using the hashtag #potholepalooza. Residents can track the progress of reported potholes online as crews will use mobile geographic information system mapping technology to update their status within the hour.

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