HOUSTON – Houston has potholes, cracked streets and some pretty jacked-up roads... and Houstonians are complaining to 311 and anyone else who will listen to them about getting them fixed.
Natasha Simon, a real estate agent for Keller Williams Memorial, said she routinely hits the streets of Houston, streets she knows incredibly well due to all the driving she has to do every day.
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“Oh, last year, I drove about 30,000 miles. So, we show a lot of houses, and we, you know, we have to replace a lot of tires for mileage and potholes and damage from potholes,” Natasha said.
Natasha also added that many of Houston’s roads are cracked, have potholes, and are bad for her tires.
Recently, she found out just how hazardous the roads were when one of those streets destroyed the front wheel of her BMW, costing her hundreds of dollars, all just because she drove down the wrong street.
“I hit a pothole on the way to an appointment with a client. I got dipped really low. It was like, bang, you know, and then I was like, ‘What was that?’ My husband was like, ‘What did you hit?’” Natasha said.
To give you a look at just how bad the problem is, here are 25 of the worst roads in the Houston area, according to the Houston Public Works Department:
#1. St. Emanuel Street, which is between St. Joseph and Jefferson located downtown. The street is filled with massive cracks and eruptions in the roadway where the pavement is lifted. Some of the giant potholes were once repaired, but obviously not correctly, which has turned the road into a roller coaster.
Repairing this street will be a joint project between TxDOT and the city of Houston, but no repair date has been listed.
KPRC 2 Investigative reporter Bill Spencer walked St. Emanuel Street with newly-elected District I Councilmember Joaquin Martinez.
“When you see the potholes like this, what does that do to you? How do you feel about it?” Spencer asked Martinez.
“So, there’s definitely frustration, right? Because I drive these streets all the time. I definitely want to say there shouldn’t be any excuses, but there has been deferred maintenance for 20 years.” Martinez answered.
The council member has several of the roads listed on the top 25 list in his district. He says the city must do better.
Councilmember Martinez has several of these top 25 worst streets in his district and says the city has to do better, and added that the best way for all of us to get roads repaired quickly is to call 311 and then your local council member.
“So, you call 311 and after you get through, you want to make sure you’re very specific. Give your address, and then also let them know how many potholes you have on the street or if you have a stretch of lane that’s cracked. Give them very specific information, and get a service request number. Then, call our office and let us help expedite that. Once you get the service request number, we’ll help push them to get that work done,” said Martinez.
KPRC 2 reporter Bill Spencer attempted to get newly-elected Mayor John Whitmire to come along on a ride with him, and inquire about his plan to fix the damaged roads, but he canceled within hours of the interview.