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SDOT’s Repair Programs

SDOT does its best to maintain our transportation system to serve all users, such as people walking, cycling, driving, riding a bus or driving a truck.

Our repair program has three main tiers.

Potholes
We quickly address the safety issues created by those holes in the street so common during our rain and freeze season. 

SDOT fills about 10,000 potholes per year, and we have a goal to do so within 72 hours of the request.  Click here for more info, including the causes of potholes.  

Spot Paving Improvements
These are medium-sized repairs. This could be anything larger than a pothole to fully repaving a couple of blocks of lanes.  By fixing isolated problem areas, we extend the life of roads that are otherwise in good condition. 

Each year SDOT provides about 3.5 lane miles of such repairs on arterials, however in 2011 added funding allowed us to repair over 15 lane miles. SDOT also annually repairs about 0.2 to 0.8 miles of non-arterials important to transit, walkers, cyclists and local businesses.

Large Projects
These projects reconstruct or improve a whole stretch of road to optimum condition.  The finished product is so noticeably smoother that when you first use it, you might find yourself saying, “ooh” or “aahh.” 

Paving Projects Map

The City has been completing about 20 to 25 arterial lane miles of large projects per year, thanks to the Bridging the Gap initiative approved by Seattle voters in 2006.  Recent examples include many streets downtown, several arterials in Georgetown last summer, Fauntleroy Way SW and the N 85th St project currently underway.  Check out this map of recent and future large projects.

With limited funds, we naturally focus on maintaining arterials, because they serve the most people.  Our list of large projects is developed by staff based on set criteria, but anyone can call 684-ROAD to request repairs for potholes and spot improvements throughout the city.

Please keep in mind that Seattle has a large backlog of deferred maintenance accumulated over many years and, even with the increased funding from the levy, the various needs around the city cannot be met currently.