How to Get Potholes Fixed in St. Petersburg and Tampa, FL
We’ve all been there, driving along and all of the sudden SLAM! The wheel goes down into a rough pothole and back up before you even knew what happened. This can be both damaging to your car and flat-out dangerous. Getting ahold of the right organization to have these potholes fixed can be quite the rabbit hole if you don’t know where to look. In this article, we will help steer you in the right direction along with covering why it’s important to notify your local road maintenance organization to have asphalt potholes fixed as quickly as possible.
Why not contact an asphalt paving company directly?
First off, if you were to directly contact the asphalt contractor you would have to pay the cost of the repair. Secondly, there may be laws and regulations in place depending on your state which prevent contractors from working on public roadways without city approval.
Is it hard to get potholes fixed on Pinellas, St. Petersburg and Tampa Public Roads?
Short answer, no. It’s not incredibly hard however the main issue generally boils down to the time it takes for the city to assess the issue wherein their first goal is to determine the critical nature of the pothole and whether it’s a pothole at all. In Florida especially, sinkholes are often mistaken for potholes. Sinkholes are much more difficult to repair and also much more concerning for cities as they pose a much greater threat to drivers. By alerting the proper channel of the road hazard, the city is more likely to fix it quickly and you may even be the reason a driver avoided a collision … (leaving out a long butterfly effect explanation).
Why Is It Important to Fix Potholes
Roads and parking areas should always be clear of any obstacles to avoid incidents. Hence, it is vital that potholes, cracks, and other road issues are fixed at the soonest possible time. When these minor road problems are left untreated, they can lead to more significant issues and pose a threat to vehicles.
You have to keep in mind that when it comes to the pavement, even the most minor pothole can cause trouble. Hence, in Pinellas and Tampa, every citizen is encouraged to report the slightest sign of cracks and potholes to the local authorities. If you live in Pinellas or Tampa, you can visit the Pinellas County Public Works page to report potholes and other road issues. You can either send them an email or call their office.
How to Report Potholes in Pinellas/St. Pete/Largo/Seminole/Clearwater
You can help your local government save a lot of money by reporting potholes as soon as you see them. In Pinellas County, you can get help in fixing potholes or repairing deteriorated public roads through the Pinellas County government website. Various public works-related concerns can be reported to their designated online form. You can also dial (727) 464-8900 or send an email via PublicWorks@pinellascounty.org.
[button link=”http://www.pinellascounty.org/publicworks/report-request.htm” color=”orange” newwindow=”yes”] Contact Pinellas Public Works[/button]
How to Report Potholes in Tampa
Requests for fixing potholes and other street repairs can be submitted directly to the Transportation and Stormwater Services call center in Tampa. Simply dial (813) 274-3101. On the Tampa government website, you can also submit your requests online by following the links provided for potholes or sinking area repair, roadway depressions, street resurfacing, and more.
Make sure to provide them with the exact location, quantity, and severity of the distress of the street. You should also inform the dispatcher if the problem is disrupting the traffic flow in the area.
Likewise, you can also report a pothole to Hillsborough County’s government website. You can either fill out an online form or call the Public Works office at (813) 635-5400. Alternatively, you can contact their office via email at PWCustomerResolution@HCFLGov.net.
If the pothole is bad (and possibly a sinkhole) we recommend both calling and submitting a written request.
[button link=”https://www.tampa.gov/tss-transportation/programs/street-repairs” color=”orange” newwindow=”yes”] Contact Tampa Transportation Services[/button]
Importance of Reporting Potholes on Your Public Roads
There is a need for everyone to be proactive when it comes to caring for the public roads around you. Potholes can cause a lot of problems for drivers and vehicle owners. Regularly driving on roads with potholes and distressed pavements can cause flat tires and expensive automotive repairs.
Collisions and road accidents can also happen when the road is uneven and full of potholes. Small potholes and hairline cracks on roads and pavements, when neglected, can lead to massive craters and accumulation of road salts and various debris.
Pothole Repairs by Anderson and Sons Asphalt
If you need professional asphalt paving, including pothole fixing on private parking lots or driveways, Anderson and Sons Asphalt is your go-to asphalt company in Pinellas County. We have a talented team of asphalt experts, and we only use the leading technology and high-quality materials. We can guarantee that every job is done efficiently and on time. When it comes to potholes on public roadways, you will need to contact your local city roadworks department to have the pothole fixed.
Fixing potholes is considered a specialty asphalt repair service, along with asphalt seal coating and repaving, fixing trip hazards, and low-lying area repairs. All of these are done using different techniques and processes. But in general, cleaning the entire area to be repaired is the very first step.
Loose dirt and debris must be removed and entirely cleaned for the asphalt repair to be effective. If not done correctly, the tack coat will be useless and will not properly adhere to the existing asphalt.
Depending on the condition and size of the pothole, it may be necessary to first widen the hole and remove any ledge that may be prone to cracking or preventing the new asphalt from properly leveling out on the surface.
Next, we will apply slow setting tac coat to the repair area. This is necessary to ensure that the new asphalt will be set properly and adhere to the affected area. The tac coat needs to dry completely for long-lasting effectivity. After curing, a hot mix of asphalt will be applied to repair the damaged asphalt area.
Here at Anderson and Sons Asphalt, we understand the importance of a long-lasting asphalt pavement. Aside from avoiding accidents, a properly maintained asphalt pavement means you save a lot of money from frequent repairs and a short lifespan. Thus, we only use the highest quality asphalt materials and always stay on top of industrial innovations. So we can keep up with the latest technology and find which one is most beneficial for our client’s projects.