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City swamped with residents' calls about potholes

Driver complaints about potholes have more than doubled in Pittsburgh this year.

According to data from the city’s 311 response line, there have been 5,036 complaints about potholes from Oct. 1 through Friday. Over the same period last year, there were fewer than 2,300.

City leaders blame the constant freezing and thawing for creating the potholes.

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"There are potholes on the other part of 5th Avenue where you have to straddle the lanes which is terrifying to drive in,” said Shadyside resident Ray Van Cleve.

The potholes caused Van Cleve to change his whole routine. He now takes the bus most days so to avoid damaging his car.

"If I drive it's only a couple of dollars to park, but this could be a $400 or at least several hundred dollars in damages to my car that happens,” said Van Cleve.

It's a problem that extends beyond just cars.

South Side resident Toni Geyer now has to avoid potholes in her wheelchair.

"I've gotten stuck in some of the potholes around,” said Geyer. "I'm thankful to the people that have helped."

It's a frustration drivers are making sure the city knows about.

"It's bad all over the place. Any road system that's not been resurfaced in a number of years then you will see these problems. But I want to say had we not done the paving we've done in the last three years this situation could be far worse,” said Pittsburgh Public Works director Mike Gable.

A stretch of dry weather will allow public works crews to begin cold patching the potholes tonight.

They plan on working straight through until Wednesday afternoon, when more rain could move in.