image uploaded by JoshuaDavisPhotography on Flickr

Have you driven on Potomac Avenue SE between Pennsylvania Avenue and 16th Street recently? The eastbound lane is like an old-time washboard, and you practically have to have a 4-wheel drive vehicle to off-road through this stretch of asphalt. Eastbound cars often swerve into the oncoming lane to avoid the hazard, combining with the potholes to form a three-block obstacle course. So what will it take for this pavement to get fixed?

A lot of complaining, apparently. I’ve called the mayor’s citywide call center (311) and complained. I was given the requisite confirmation number and told someone would address the potholes soon. I’ve logged onto the Washington Post’s new “local gripe” website and logged the problem. The Post states they forward the problem to city offices. The site also allows you to track the issue and neighbors can even “vote” in support of getting the issue addressed (though this site covers everything from my pothole gripe to broken diving boards at a public pool).

The potholes have been present for months. It’s been at least two weeks since I last reported the issue to the City, with no resolution. I even got an automated email from the Post asking if the problem has been fixed. It hasn’t, but the Post still removed it from their gripe page. So what next? A call to my Council member? Complaint letters to the ANC? Or take up a collection from the neighborhood and fix it ourselves?