BALTIMORE, MD.  — Today, Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young and Baltimore City Department of Transportation Director Steve Sharkey officially launched the Mayor’s 50-day Pothole Challenge to smooth and improve city roadways.  As part of Mayor Young’s Clean It Up! Campaign, the city will use data-driven cleaning initiatives to collaborate with residents and community partners for a cleaner, safer city. 

“One of my top priorities is to clean up this city, and with my 50-day Pothole Challenge, I encourage all residents to report potholes to 311 so that together we can improve city roadways,” said Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young.  “Making Baltimore cleaner and more beautiful is critical for improving public safety and helping Baltimore’s neighborhoods to become more livable and prosperous.”

With the 50-day challenge, the city aims to repair at least 100 pothole service requests a day for the next 50 days to dramatically improve roadways in Baltimore. For this initiative to be a success, the city is asking all Baltimore residents, visitors and employees to report pesky potholes to 311 or file an online service request for repair. With the public’s help and as part of the initiative – DOT will have a 66% increase in the number of pothole work orders closed each day. Potholes that are reported to 311 are typically addressed within 48 hours and emergency situations are addressed immediately. 

Potholes are a common occurrence this time of year. They develop when water seeps into the cracks of a roadway and temperatures drop below freezing. As the water freezes and expands, it causes the asphalt to break apart, causing a hole to form in the roadway. 

“March is typically the busiest month for pothole repairs, and we are quickly approaching this busy time of year,” said Director Steve Sharkey. “The Department of Transportation responds to pothole issues through complaint tracking, proactive repair work and frequent field inspections. Maintenance crews work in specific zones throughout the city to service streets on a proactive basis, but also rely on the public’s help to improve city roadways.”

The city’s roadway infrastructure is a quality of life issue for all residents, and the public can help to maintain city streets by reporting issues to 311. The Department of Transportation is committed to Mayor Young’s 50-day pothole challenge, and with the public’s support, can improve the streets of Baltimore City together.