Crews keep busy patching potholes

It’s pothole season in the Flathead Valley, driven by this winter’s freeze/thaw cycles.

That’s the word from Whitefish Public Works Director John Wilson.

“It’s a tough year ... perfect conditions for potholes,” he said.

Wilson said city workers have repaired quite a few potholes already on Baker Street.

“We repair potholes whenever weather allows. Call and we’ll put ’em on the list,” he said. Whitefish residents can report potholes to 863-2456.

It’s a similar situation in Kalispell.

City Engineer Paul Burnham said city workers are out filling potholes in between snow plowing runs.

The potholes are filled with a cold mix now and will followed up with a hot mix in late spring or early summer, he said. Putting in the hot mix requires cutting out the old cold-mix patch.

Kalispell residents can report potholes to 758-7720.

Things are a little different in Columbia Falls, Public Works Director Lorin Lowry said.

“We haven’t observed that we have a serious pothole problem,” he said.

That’s because the city spent the past several years upgrading city streets. “We finished a street improvement project last year” and before that were doing overlay projects, he said.

City streets improved were Talbott Road, Veterans Drive, First Avenue East and Third Avenue East.

Lowry said Columbia Falls recently purchased a pothole-patching machine for $58,000. The city will using it when the temperature reaches 40 degrees, he said. Until then, they will continue using a cold mix.

Columbia Falls residents can report potholes at 892-4391.

Montana Department of Transportation spokeswoman Lori Ryan said workers were out Tuesday repairing potholes with a “winter mix.”

Those who observe potholes on a state or federal highway can report them to 751-2000.

Reporter Caleb Soptelean may be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at csoptelean@dailyinterlake.com.