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City Public Works In Search Of Potholes

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - When there's a brief thaw or just a break in the winter weather, out come the pothole crews to cold patch the streets of Pittsburgh.

And that's the plan this weekend.

"Winter time -- it's either snow and ice or potholes," says city Public Works director Mike Gable.

But this time the city has put out an "All-Points Bulletin" to the public in search of this ubiquitous culprit -- the pothole.

It's an unusual problem.

Pittsburgh Public Works says they don't really have enough potholes to fill.

It's not that they don't exist. It's just that they haven't been reported.

"We know the public knows where a lot of them are at and we hoping they're going to tell us where they're at," Gable told KDKA's Jon Delano.

Gable says his crews have tried to keep up with the obvious potholes during this winter.

"We're in a much better condition than we were a year ago, and again I think we haven't had the extremes that we had last year."

One thing that has helped was last year's repaving of many city streets -- something that will increase this coming year as Gable hopes to repave eighty miles of streets.

"The more we can get to that 80 miles a year, we're probably going to have less and less pothole complaints."

But in the meantime, he's asking city residents to report whatever potholes they see right now by calling 3-1-1 so his crew can blitz the city this weekend.

"We do like to have it come through the 3-1-1. There's a physical record of it. We can act on it, and then get that response back, so we do encourage 3-1-1."

You can also let Public Works know of potholes through twitter, text message, or the city's website.

The point, says Gable, "We should be able to generate a good list of complaints."

To report a pothole in your neighborhood here's what to do:

-- In the City of Pittsburgh dial 3-1-1. All calls are answered by a live operator between 7:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

-- Outside the city of Pittsburgh call 412-255-2621.

-- Voice or text message can be submitted by calling or texting 412-573-9736.

-- Submissions can be tweeted via Twitter here.

-- Or click here for an online submission form.

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