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Minneapolis Approves $1 Million For Quick Pothole Repair

By Rachel Slavik, WCCO-TV

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) –- More crews will be on the streets filling potholes in Minneapolis next week. The city stepped in to help by freeing up an extra $1 million to patch all those potholes.

Inside Paul Williams Tire Company, Mitch Mullenbach doesn't need to see the roads to know they're in rough shape. He gets at least three vehicles with pothole damage every day, everything from bent wheels to a busted suspension.

"As far as numbers, I would say it's so far gone up 10-15 percent, but, like I said, it's just starting," said Mullenbach.

Half of the city's repair money will come from leftover general fund money; the other half is an advancement from a community development fund.

"It's been a very long, hard winter. We had all the perfect ingredients for a lot of pothole formation," said Mike Kennedy, director of Minneapolis Public Works.

In order to prioritize whether a street needs pothole repair, the crews will take into account the amount of traffic on the street, the severity of the pothole problem and whether or not the street is scheduled for more extensive repairs later in the year.

"Of course we'd like to have every street be first, but we can't," he said.

They will then set up routes and work their way around the city, rather than jumping from one bad road, to another across town.

"We want to be efficient with our crews, so hopping around is very inefficient," said Kennedy.

Four crews will be on the road starting next week in north, northeast, downtown and south Minneapolis.

Mullenbach said one of the easiest ways to avoid damage from potholes is to slow down and make sure your tires are properly inflated, so your tire can take the brunt of the impact.

To report a pothole that needs repair to the city, drivers can call 311.

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