Noticing more potholes this year? You're not alone

Roy Jones Sr. has lived in the same Linwood house since 1999, but he said Monday the pothole problem has never been as bad as it is this year. According to Jones, his many calls to city officials have gone unanswered and the pock-marked streets of his neighborhood have only gotten worse. "If I got out and started walking up the hill to count them, I'd probably hit over 200," he said. "A hole is a hole, and it needs to be fixed and patched right." The problem isn't only in Linwood, Ohio Department of Transportation communications manager Brian Cunningham said. It's everywhere, thanks to an unusually harsh winter that froze and cracked streets across the northwestern portion of the state.  That same inhospitable weather can make it difficult to repair the damage. "Because of the cold and the wind, sometimes equipment can malfunction and we'll have to shut down and repair it," he said. Cunningham said ODOT is just as invested as drivers in making sure crashes don't happen, and repairing potholes is part of that.  "If there are potholes on roadways that are ODOT's jurisdiction, they can contact ODOT District 8 and we will let our folks know and try to get out there as soon as possible," he said. ODOT's jurisdiction includes state routes, U.S. routes and the interstate, Cunningham said. City roads like the ones vexing Jones are the responsibility of the city government.