Pothole relief on the way, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf says
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Pothole relief might soon be coming to a Pennsylvania road near you.
Pennsylvania Governor, Tom Wolf says the state is setting aside millions of dollars in what's being called the "Resurface PA Initiative" to attack potholes across the state.
"A couple of months ago I hit one on Front Street. I had to redo my axles and everything," said Billy Shank from Fishtown ."It was a thousand dollars worth of damage."
Wolf said the goal is to get the highways to the point where we actually can be proud of our system again, Pothole relief on the way, Gov. Wolf saysbetween now and the end of the summer.
"We don't want to pay for realignments. I drive a Jeep, and I feel the imperfections in our highways more than probably anybody else," said Wolf.
The administration's new $180 million statewide project is expected to improve travel in the short-term and in the future.
Drivers we talked to say any plan to repair potholes gets a much approved green light.
"Nice cars, old cars it hurts our pockets and we have to keep fixing our tires, axels break and everything else," said Debra Vona of South Philly. " I would like to see everything done. Streets done, potholes done and drive smooth."
Much of the work will be financed using savings from other projects since Governor Wolf took office.
The formation of many of those teeth shattering potholes is being blamed on the up and down temperatures over the winter.
"This past winter has been an awful winter with the freezing and thawing, we even had an 80-degree day in February," said Wolf. "It was a tough year for our highways."
PennDOT crews have been hard at work for months trying to repair the damage to the state's highways.
This new initiative will give them a much-needed boost and provide extra resources for immediate pothole repairs.
Outside of patching those potholes, money will be used for interstate improvements, road resurfacing, and interstate preservation projects.
"Through the end of April, PennDOT crews have already used nearly 23,000 tons of Asphalt repairing potholes statewide. That is almost 10,000 more tons than we've used in 2017 or 2016," said Leslie Richards, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary.
Motorists can report potholes and other highway-maintenance concerns on state routes at www.customercare.penndot.gov or by calling PennDOT's toll-free hotline at 1-800-FIX-ROAD (1-800-349-7623).
