‘Fix the potholes!’: Drivers grow impatient with Memphis road conditions

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Tasha Bryles braced for impact as her car slammed into a Memphis pothole the size of a bathtub.

“Instead of swerving, we just ran into the pothole,” she explained. “It was a big BOOM!”

The Murfreesboro resident traveled more than 200 miles to see her family in Memphis. Instead, she spent four hours on Monday morning waiting on a fix for her tire.

“Coming here and seeing the huge potholes, it’s a shocker!” she said. “It’s public safety. It’s tax dollars.”

Denise Price told FOX13 that she reported that same pothole on Airways Boulevard north of the border with Mississippi.

“I called and nobody did anything about it,” Price said. “It’s very dangerous for somebody not familiar with the area.”

A spokeswoman for the City of Memphis told FOX13 that public works employees are aware of the increasing number of potholes.

“The primary reason for this increase can be attributed to ice and snow,” wrote Arlenia Cole, the city spokeswoman. “Rapid, freezing and thawing of the roadway asphalt surface causes sections of the pavement to crack and become loose.”

She said the director of public works has doubled the number of crews fixing potholes and will also “utilize the necessary overtime.” According to the city, crews repair about 50,000 potholes a year – 85% of which are discovered by city staffers.

Bryles had to pay a $500 deductible to get her car fixed. She hopes that city crews will work quickly to address the problems.

“Fix the potholes, man!” she said. “Some of us are just coming through, visiting family. I never get to see family ... So when I come, I didn’t want to deal with this type of damage to my vehicle.”

To report potholes, call 311 or 901-636-6500.

Cole also reminded the public that these roads are maintained by the state: (in addition to Interstates 40, 55, and 240):

• Bill Morris Parkway – (TN 385)

• Covington Pike – (TN 204)

• Danny Thomas Blvd/ Thomas Street – (TN 3)

• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Blvd east of Second – (TN 278)

• East Parkway/ part of Airways – (TN 277)

• EH Crump Boulevard – (TN 1/4)

• Elvis Presley Blvd/ Bellevue Boulevard south of Union – (TN 3)

• Germantown Pkwy – (TN 177)

• Getwell Rd/ New Getwell Rd south of I-240 – (TN 176)

• Jackson Avenue – (TN 14)

• Lamar Avenue – (TN 4)

• N Parkway/ AW Willis East of Second – (TN 1)

• Poplar Avenue east of East Parkway – (TN 57)

• Second Street south of Chelsea – (TN 14)

• Shelby Drive east of Third – (TN 174)

• Stage Road – (TN 15)

• State Route 300 – I/40 Thomas Street Connector

• Summer Avenue – (TN 1)

• Third Street/ BB King – (TN 14)

• Union Avenue east of Second –(TN 3)

• Walnut Grove Road west of I-240 – (TN 23)

• Weaver Road south of Shelby Drive – (TN 175)

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