Potholes present an expensive problem

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - The Virginia Department of Transportation had to perform an emergency pothole repair Wednesday afternoon at rush hour, shutting down two lanes of eastbound I-264. The repairs caused traffic to back up for miles.

The pothole problem isn't limited to the interstate. City streets and roadways also have their fair share.

Year-round, Virginia Beach officials told WAVY.com they repair about 6,000 potholes across their city alone. City crews admit that while it is not a complex operation, it is an expensive one. Virginia Beach spends some $250,000 a year into pothole repair.

Photos: Pothole Problem

"You got to figure in the equipment, the manpower, the material and ah, it does add up," said Robert Dillard, a street maintenance supervisor.

It takes at least three crew members to repair potholes. Winter storms, like the recent one that blew through Hampton Roads, often requires the city to dedicate extra resources to road repair.

"Right after it snowed, I'd say about a week or two, that's when we start getting the calls coming back in again.  You know what I'm saying.  And we got to be on it," explained Ron Jacobs Jr. with Virginia Beach Public Works.

They try to get on each case as quickly as possible.

"If we get a call from customer service we usually we try to respond with the potholes in 24-hours at the latest it'd be 48-hours."

To report a pothole, Virginia Beach residents can call:  757.385.1470, or file a complaint online .

Click here for local resources on reporting potholes.