'Pothole Rangers' claim a record after filling 1,589 in a week

Crews from the Seattle Transportation Department say they have set a record for the number of potholes they've filled in a week -- 1,589, which beats their weekly average of 1,335.

The department released that figure Wednesday for the period March 19 through Tuesday.

The number is the result of Mayor Greg Nickels' challenge last week to city crews and the public's help in identifying needed repairs, department spokesman Rick Sheridan said.

The city crews, known as "Pothole Rangers," responded to 577 repair requests from residents for that period, which is up from 146 requests during an ordinary week, he said.

"The mayor declared open season on potholes and issued this challenge to the Pothole Rangers."

Officials have said crews will repair potholes on public streets within 48 hours of receiving a report.

The department reported that its crews have had a 95 percent success rate since 2002 for filling the holes within that period.

The cold and wet weather during the winter can cause potholes on roads. During the spring, they can become noticeable in large numbers, the department noted.

REPORT POTHOLES

While the seven-day emphasis is over, officials still want residents to report potholes by calling 206-684-7623. They also can file reports at seattle.gov/transportation/potholereport.htm.