VANCOUVER — Harsh winter snow, ice and deep freezing temperatures often lead to an increase in potholes, soon after a thaw arrives.
Potholes get their start when melting snow or ice seep beneath the pavement through cracks caused by wear and tear of traffic. Then the moisture freezes and expands below the surface. When temperatures rise again, the moisture melts, leaving a gap between the pavement and the surface under it. As the weight of vehicles continues to put pressure on those weakened areas, the pavement can crack or crumble, leading to the birth of a pothole.
Vancouver Public Works crews fill potholes as part of regular street maintenance and operations. Residents can help by reporting them. A good description of the pothole location, including nearest cross street, is needed. Indicating the size of the pothole can also be helpful.
Here are three easy ways to report potholes within the City of Vancouver:
Call the Operations Center: Report potholes and other Public Works Service requests by calling Vancouver’s Operations Center at 360-487-8177. For after-business-hour calls, please follow the prompts to connect with an answering service.
Use the MyVancouver app: It’s free, it’s fun, and smart device users in the city can use the Service Request section of the MyVancouver mobile app to report a pothole. Enter the address, add a photo if you wish, and a detailed description, including the nearest intersection. Get the app here: cityofvancouver.us/myvancouver. Please note: For urgent issues or to report other types of problems not listed under Service Request on the app, please call the Operations Center.
Submit an Online Service Request: Use Public Works’ online service request form at www.cityofvancouver.us/servicerequest to report potholes and other problems. Please remember to provide details and location. As with the app, online requests can be submitted anytime, at your convenience, but are not monitored around-the-clock. For urgent issues that need immediate attention, please call the Operations Center.
Vancouver Public Works is committed to providing quality customer service. During busy times following heavy freezes and thaws, please allow crews time to respond to the many requests. For urgent needs, please call the Operations Center.
Not certain if the pothole location is within the city? Use this handy tool on the web to find out: www.cityofvancouver.us/citylimitsmap.
Elsewhere in Southwest Washington: For potholes in unincorporated Clark County, please contact Clark County Public Works. Potholes on state highways, ramps and rights of way, as well as Mill Plain Boulevard from Interstate 5 west to the Port of Vancouver, should be reported to Washington Department of Transportation’s Southwest Region.
