Resident:
Ebony Swindle, South Oklahoma City
Context: Swindle is among residents calling for the city to fix streets that are especially pothole-riddlen. Swindle said her car was damaged by a pothole this winter. She paid for the repairs on her own, leaving less money for other expenses.
Response:
Eric Wenger, Public Works Director
Context: Eric Wenger said potholes are a result of wet, icy and snowy weather conditions and the city fixes about 80,000 potholes each year. While Wenger said potholes affect every part of Oklahoma City, a blight study shows some parts of the city have worse street conditions than others. Northeastern Oklahoma City’s pavement conditions a significantly below the citywide average, according to that study.
A Deeper Look:
Dodging Damage
Oklahoma City spends tens of thousands of dollars a year to repair residents’ vehicles damaged by potholes. The city has a review process to investigate claims before paying for repairs. Use the chart below to see how much the city has paid to repair residents’ vehicles annually since 2009.
Source: City of Oklahoma City.
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