Potholes costly for drivers

According to Pocatellan Blaise Smith, dodging potholes is a normal part of driving in the Gate City.

“You see new ones all the time,” Smith said. “It just seems like potholes are something you learn to avoid.”

In a survey, AAA found drivers have spent around $15 billion to repair car damage from potholes. It also found the average car repair bill was around $300.

Auto repair shop Quigley’s has seen its fair share of pothole car damage. Mitchell Quigley, an assistant manager there, said damage easily costs hundreds of dollars. However, there’s cases he’s seen the cost well-above the average.

“On certain vehicles you could be up to $800 replacing a set of tires,” Quigley said.

In the cases it goes above average, it’s because potholes can cause serious irreparable damage to wheels, tires, even a car’s alignment.

Of course, some of Pocatello’s potholes have been filled. Tom Kirkman, the street operations superintendent, said people need to report potholes as soon as they see them.

That way the pothole won’t become a bigger problem later.

“We’d much rather get to them when they’re small and patch them quickly before they become an issue,” Kirkman said.

To report a pothole, you can call Pocatello’s street operations department at 208-234-6250. You can also report potholes on their Facebook page.