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Agency official outlines pothole response, urges residents to use 3-1-1 app
Summary
At a town meeting, an agency official described how the public works department is handling pothole repairs — prioritizing hot-mix patches when available, targeting a 48-business-hour response time, and using a pavement-condition index to direct limited funds. Residents were urged to use the rebranded "big red 3 1 1" reporting app.
A committee member opened the discussion by saying, "I will give DPW a lot of credit because" the department has been responsive to pothole reports, and mentioned staffer Chanel would follow up on specific locations.
An agency official described the town's rebranded reporting system — called the "big red 3 1 1" app — and urged residents to download the app and include location-enabled photos so crews can find and fix issues. "Use the big red 3 1 1 app," the official said, adding that photo location data lets crews go directly to the reported site.
The official said the DPW's operational target is to respond to reports within 48 business hours, noting that a report filed on a Friday often will be handled the following Monday. The official also said crews worked additional days this spring to address a backlog created by a severe winter.
On repair materials, the official explained the difference between hot-mix asphalt and so-called "soft patch" products sold at Home Depot. "The not preferred solution is called soft patch," the official said, adding that soft patch can be pushed out by traffic because it does not form a durable bond. The town prefers hot mix when the asphalt plants are open and a supplier can deliver material, the official said.
The official outlined how DPW evaluates larger road work, contrasting complete reclamation — which removes pavement and the underlying foundation and can cost roughly a million dollars per mile — with 2-inch or 4-inch surface overlays. "Four is better," the official said when describing the greater stability of a thicker overlay.
Faced with rising material and installation costs and higher traffic volumes than decades ago, the official said DPW staff are building a pavement condition index and combining it with traffic studies to target limited annual funds where they are most needed. The official credited staffer Mark with compiling the analysis and using volume and counts to prioritize projects.
No formal vote or motion was recorded on these operational matters during the discussion. The immediate outcome was staff confirmation that they will continue using the 3-1-1 app, prioritize repairs using the pavement-condition analysis and schedule hot-mix repairs when supply allows.
