02.01.2024

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Today’s Forecast

54º | Evening showers | 40% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:32 a.m. | Sunset 5:17 p.m.

Let’s fill you in on Portland’s potholes

Filling in the cracks on how potholes are patched in Portland

The Portland Bureau of Transportation's pothole repair crew works on a large patch in the street.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation’s policy is that a pothole must be filled within 30 days of reporting. | Photo via PBOT

The Portland Bureau of Transportation said it best — pothole season has arrived in full force. These dastardly divots can do serious damage to your vehicle, so we’re sharing some tools and tips to keep you safe and our roads smooth.

The problem

Potholes are created when water freezes and expands under pavement, weakening its surface. The more cars that drive over the holes, the worse they get. As you can imagine, the recent winter storm wreaked havoc.

There are five PBOT crews working as fast as they can to fix the thousands of potholes that appear every year. In 2021 alone, it filled 8,096 potholes to a tune of $1.25 million, courtesy of the Fixing Our Streets program.

The city can only fill the potholes it knows about, so if you’ve been frustrated about one in your neck of the woods, make sure to reach out about it. If you’re a visual person, check out this tracking map of pending and completed repairs.

A map of Portland shows hundreds of green circles, representing fixed potholes, with red squares signifying a pothole waiting to be repaired. — Green means filled, red represents a pothole that still needs repair work.
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Map via PBOT

The solution

Before reporting a pothole, there are questions to ask.

Is the pothole on a street that is actually managed by the city? Some roads are managed by the state.
Does it meet the definition of a pothole? It could instead be delamination (a shallow defect) or a rectangular-edged hole made intentionally that utility contractors are responsible for.

Once you’re sure, you can call (503) 823-1700, email the 24/7 maintenance dispatch, or use PDX Reporter (there is a web version and smartphone app). Be ready to give an address and provide images if possible.

Ultimately, Portland puts the onus on drivers to be aware of road conditions and exercise the necessary caution, based on the rationale that the cause of potholes is inclement weather — not the city’s negligence. If your car is damaged by a pothole, there is a very slim chance you can get reimbursed; find out how that process works (historically, only 10% of claims are paid).

Events

Thursday, Feb. 1

W+K Presents: The SOUL Shop | Thursday, Feb. 1 | 5-9 p.m. | Wieden+Kennedy, 224 NW 13th Ave., Portland | Free, donations encouraged | Join the immersive experience and art exhibition to celebrate Black culture, local creatives, and businesses.

Friday, Feb. 2

Remix Market | Friday, Feb. 2 | 5:30 p.m. | Chiles Center at the University of Portland, 5000 NE Willamette Blvd., Portland | Check out the pop-up thrift market before watching the Rip City Remix take on the South Bay Lakers on ‘90s Night.
Portland Winter Light Festival: What Glows Under Pressure | Friday, Feb. 2-Saturday, Feb. 10 | 6-10 p.m. | Locations vary | Free | Your weekend will be brighter when you experience this phenomenon made up of illuminated installations across the city.

Saturday, Feb. 3

Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play! | Saturday, Feb. 3-Sunday, Feb. 4 | Times vary | The Judy Kafoury Center for Youth Arts, 1000 SW Broadway, Portland | $25-$35 | Meet “bestus friends” Gerald the Elephant and Piggie the Pig who explore friendship’s biggest moments, like sharing a toy and dressing up for a fancy party.
Chinese New Year Cultural Fair 2024 | Saturday, Feb. 3 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Oregon Convention Center, Exhibit Hall E, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland | $9 | Bring the whole family for a day of fun and celebration of Chinese culture, including folk dances, instrumental music, calligraphy and martial arts demonstrations, and more.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Civic

Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry will no longer make homeowners who had tree damage on their property (between Jan. 12 and Feb. 23) pay retroactive tree removal and replanting application fees. Visit the department’s website for more info, to receive a refund, or submit a no-fee permit. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)

Today Is

The first day of Black History Month. Across Portland, we commemorate past achievements and celebrate today’s community through various events, including the PDX Jazz Festival, the Northwest Black Comedy Festival, and the Cascade Festival of African Films. See the full rundown.

Arts

Today and Sunday, visitors to Portland Art Museum can enjoy free admission, thanks to the Free First Thursday and Miller Family Free Day campaigns, respectively. Pro tip: Bank of America cardholders can enjoy free admission (here and at OMSI and Portland Japanese Garden) the first full weekend of every month.

Sports

Before stepping back on the court at the Moda Center, former Portland Trail Blazer Damian Lillard received a warm welcome at Adidas’ North American headquarters. The apparel brand hosted a ceremony where it renamed its on-campus basketball court in his honor — a first for the company. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live + KGW)

Plan Ahead

Patrons at Bridgeport Village will be treated to an early Lunar New Year celebration this Saturday, Feb. 3, 2-4 p.m., where you’ll find calligraphy artists, an origami station, and a booth to create your own dragon puppet. At 3:30 p.m., White Lotus Dragon and Lion Dance will also perform.

Home

This Valentine’s Day decor is making our hearts skip a beat and includes heart-shaped wreaths, neon “love” signs, heart-shaped felt garlands, and cozy red blankets.*

Wellness

Finding a therapist who understands how both different sexual and gender identities and alternate relationship structures impact a relationship can be challenging. Bryce Cohan, MA, at the Couples of Clinic of Portland, can help.*

The Buy

The Buy 2.01.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

A gift from Six & Main’s Valentine’s Day collection for someone you love. There’s colorful chocolates, funny cards, games for couples, and lots and lots of pink.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Ben

From the editor

PAM CUT is taking a colorful approach to fundraising. From now until Feb. 12, the first 16 people to donate $250 or more to the nonprofit will be automatically enrolled in a free class at Bullseye Glass on Feb. 15 at 6:00 p.m., followed by an exclusive tour of the studio. You’ll also get tickets to a screening of “Holy Frit,” a glassblowing documentary.

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