COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A break from the extreme cold and snow is proving to be no break for Central Ohio drivers as potholes form across the area.
NBC 4 checked with the city of Columbus, and the city's 311 hotline had received 104 pothole reports through 5 p.m. Monday.
At least five pothole crews, made up of three people each, patrolled Columbus' streets Monday. Five additional crews were scheduled to work overnight to patch problem areas.
A quarter-mile stretch of King Avenue on the city's Northwest Side featured dozens of potholes Monday.
NBC 4 found a crew filling potholes on Fifth Avenue with the cold patch designed to temporarily fix the problem. A permanent patch will be used when temperatures warm.
The city sets a goal of patching potholes within three days -- with the clock ticking as soon as the pothole is reported.
But with snow forecast for later this week, a city spokesperson said drivers may have to deal with the potholes longer.
Bruce Spaulding said customers at the auto-parts store where he works are complaining more than usual about potholes. Customers have said potholes are causing blown tires and damage to their vehicles' suspension.
"There's not a whole lot that they can do about it at this point, but I think the city can be a little more active in getting them repaired in a hurry," Spaulding said.
Columbus residents can call the city's 311 hotline at 614-645-3111 to report potholes. Residents also can send an e-mail to 311@columbus.gov.
Columbus Public Service Department's Rick Tilton said the 311 hotline can be used to report potholes on Columbus city streets, state Route 315 and state Route 104.
The Ohio Department of Transportation handles potholes on Interstate 70, Interstate 71, Interstate 270 and Interstate 670.
Crews try to fix problem spots within three days of a report, but city officials said it can take longer if there are many reports.
City officials encouraged residents to call the 311 hotline to report potholes. Otherwise, the problem will not be logged in the database and progress will not be tracked.
Residents also can call the 311 hotline if their vehicle is damaged after hitting a pothole.
If that pothole already has been reported and city crews have not fixed it within a "reasonable" amount of time, you could be reimbursed for the cost of repairs.
However, a representative from the Columbus city attorney's office said a reasonable amount of time could be longer than the expected three days, depending on weather and other circumstances. If that pothole wasn't reported previously, you cannot file for a claim.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com -- Where Accuracy Matters.
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