Private potholes proliferate in Colorado Springs

Many private paving contractors in the Colorado Springs area are busy filling potholes in parking lots and on access roads and streets.

Some contractors said there is enough of that work to keep them busy through fall.

Summer usually brings warmer, drier weather that provides ideal conditions for paving and pothole repair.

A particularly troublesome area for potholes is around the Sonic restaurant on 8th Street in southwest Colorado Springs.

A large pothole has developed in the parking lot and several potholes have reappeared on an access road leading to an adjacent shopping center.

Two years ago, after complaints from drivers and a NewsChannel 13 investigative report, the property owner hired a crew to repair several large potholes on two access roads.

Beth Douglas said the city’s south side seems to have more private potholes than any other area.

“I live on the north side and there aren’t nearly as many,” she said. “Down here, it seems that nothing ever happens. If more people would take pictures of potholes and send them to the property owners to complain, potholes would be repaired sooner.”

Experts advise that if you hire someone to patch private potholes, choose a reputable contractor and avoid workers from out of state who promise discounts and use toll-free phone numbers.