Update at 11:25 a.m. — The pothole has been filled, VDOT reports.
At least a half dozen cars suffered flat tires after hitting a big pothole on southbound I-395 this morning.
The pothole is located in the left lane between the 14th Street Bridge and the exit for Route 1, according to VDOT spokeswoman Jennifer McCord.
“Our contractor is en route right now and will be repairing it ASAP,” McCord said in an email.
Arlington police assisted a number of the disabled motorists.
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- Route 50 Lane Closure May Be Lifted Next Month March 16, 2011
- The Entire Life Cycle of a Pothole, Explained in 100 Seconds March 14, 2011
- Crumbling Glebe Road Bridge Slated for Replacement February 14, 2011
We need to build a new lane to get around it.
Or they could just repair the pothole.
What???? Are you nuts? A more cost-effective solution involving improvement of existing infrastructure instead of a massive, expensive new project? Egads, man.
Nope. Existing roads get repaired. Build a quadrillion more square feet of living and office space: build more transportation infrastructure, including roads.
Now to get serious. No, alot of existing roads don’t get repaired, and alot of simple, cost-effective improvements to existing roads that could easy congestion are sometimes ignored in favor of big new projects.
Finally we agree. So true. I also occasionally see perfectly good roads scraped and repaved. WTF? Someone had to spend some money…
why fix the road, people should just get smaller cars and they won’t hit the pothole. Ms Roy from lyon park is writting a letter to the county as I write this
Actually, driving trucks around pretending to be cars – i.e. SUVs – does put an added burden on the roads.
Good point. We should find a way to charge for using the road system based on gross vehicle weight and while we are at it, charge for storage based on how much space your vehicle takes up.
Actually, I think that kind of happens now. Trucks over a certain GVW are licensed and taxed differently and more than cars. Large SUVs are typically more expensive than smaller cars, and thus are taxed higher on property tax. They likewise use more gasoline, so the owner is contributing more to the gasoline tax. Plus, if they are deemed a “gas guzzler” they must pay a gas guzzler tax as well.
i know how eager some people on here are to go after SUVs but…
the difference in wear and tear on pavement done by cars vs. suvs is negligible.
It’s weather and overloaded trucks that do 99% of the damage.
It has also been proven that SUVs add disproportionately to traffic jams. They have a poorer weight/power ratio, so they accelerate more slowly at green lights. In addition, in flowing traffic, people in autos stay further behind an SUV than a sedan, because you can’t see ‘through’ an SUV like you can a sedan. SUVs crimp the field of vision of drivers behind them. That was a well-known effect of real trucks, but it is also reproduced by SUVs.
not sure where to start but pretty much everything you said is either a broad generalization, completely made up or simply not true. nice try though.
Cite your proof, please. I doubt you have it.
we don’t need a new lane, people should just get a smaller car so they won’t hit the pothole. Ms Roy, of lyon park, agrees with me and is writing a letter to the county not to fix the pothole if they are not going to fix the rest of the potholes in the county at the same time.
You can say that again. Oh, you did.
Will VDOT pay to replace my tire?
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!
Likely, yes.
How big was this pothole?
I haven’t tried it, but VDOT does have a claims process (bottom of the page):
http://www.virginiadot.org/info/faq-potholes.asp
Im guessing with your excessive use of HA, that is a no?
I suspect is has been tried. Try if you like, but the thought was funny to me. I think you are on your own unfortunately.
You spoke too soon, assuming the worst. But according to VDOT (thanks to Alyson for the link above):
“If drivers hit a pothole and experience damage to their vehicle, they have a legal right to submit a damage claim. Claims are investigated on a case-by-case basis. Investigators review the circumstances, the type and location of the pothole, if VDOT had been previously notified of the issue, and if crews had been given a reasonable amount of time to repair the pothole.”
Indeed. I must be personally jaded at the VDOT process. My case may have been an anomolie, but I found their process frustrating and without merit when considering the circumstances. But, they saw it differently and I fixed my damage. Good luck if you try and I hope you get paid for it.
Wait, so you actually complained, and got compensated? You sounded like you were saying it wasn’t even possible. Such cynicism for someone who actually succeeded.
Sorry, borf. I should have been more clear. I paid, not VDOT.
Ah, I see.
Never mind.
Pay back for the HOT lanes.
Wonder how many were low profile 17,18,19″ tires.
I’d suspect a Smart Car or Toyota Echo are much more prone to pothole damage than a Chevy Tahoe. I would guess a 1991 model car would also be likely damaged more easily than a newer model. – I do agree, those low profile tires likely get killed easily in a pothole or on a curb. Rims too.
what you’re implying is racist. as in race car.
Don’t fix it… just put a planter in it’s place.
It’s the logical thing to do.
next up: washington blvd eastbound a couple blocks east of Glebe. KATHUNK.
If this were maintained by Arlington County, the pothole wouldn’t be repaired until spring because “it’s better.”