Private potholes pose problems in Colorado Springs

Potholes on public streets and roads get most of the attention, but potholes in private parking lots and driveways also have become a problem in Colorado Springs.

Many viewers have sent KRDO NewsChannel 13 photos and described locations of potholes on private property and ask why Colorado Springs street crews don’t repair them.

Such potholes are not the city’s responsibility, but that of property owners. People with complaints about potholes and related damage or injury on private property should determine who owns the property and contact that person.

Determining who owns an affected property, however, can be a challenge — illustrated by a large pothole on a service drive between a McDonald’s on 8th Street and a car repair shop. Each business said the other is responsible for repairs.

The extent of the problem became clear two years ago when large potholes developed around the Sonic restaurant on 8th Street in Colorado Springs and in an adjacent shopping center parking lot.

After KRDO NewsChannel 13 learned who owns the properties, the potholes were repaired. However, some of those potholes are reappearing.

A viewer asked about a pothole-filled alley behind East Costilla Street and asked if the city is responsibility for it. A city representative said Wednesday that the city does maintain many alleys but considers it a low-priority task.