JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Residents living in the Jacksonville Heights area on the Westside contacted the News4Jax I-TEAM for help regarding multiple potholes on three local roads.
They say their cars are constantly bottoming out and claim their daily commute is one of the bumpiest in all of Duval County.
Residents living off Ohio Avenue, Cheryl Ann Lane and Maple Street say the potholes aren’t only a hassle, they’re also taking an expensive toll on their cars.
“It’s a headache. It’s a pain, man. It gives everyone a rough time,” said resident Desmin Partlow. “Going in and out of there, I’ve bottomed out a couple times. When I hear that sound, the first thing that comes to mind is exhausts. They aren’t cheap, and nothing under there is cheap.”
Partlow drives a low-profile sports car, making it even more precarious when coming to and from his house. But even his neighbors who drive pickup trucks share the same frustration.
“Because, when I leave with my infant daughter, she’s sleeping in her car seat like right now. She’ll wake up as soon as I go over the bump and the same thing when I go home,” said resident David Muse.
Residents contacted the I-TEAM to find out if the city of Jacksonville is responsible for the roads, as well as a stormwater drainage system that residents say is damaged.
Replying to our request, the city of Jacksonville wrote: “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. These streets are private. Therefore, the City does not maintain them. However, the City has assigned an inspector to investigate any blocked drainage pipe. If a blockage does exist, we will issue a notice to the property owner to correct.”
News4Jax also reached out to District 12 City Councilman Randy White, who said the city will accept new roads to maintain “if they are up to city standards as with any subdivision. Road needs to be 24 feet in width, with existing curbs and gutters.”
Unfortunately, these roads on the Westside do not meet those standards, leaving residents with very few options.
“It would be a gamechanger if at least Ohio Avenue was fixed. It’s really bad. In Florida, it rains every day, and the holes get deeper, and, honestly, I don’t think it’s right that we have to live like that just to go home,” Muse said.
Residents told the I-TEAM that it had been unclear to them if the roads were indeed private or the city’s property. Now that they know, a resident told the I-TEAM that their only recourse is to pitch in family by family and perhaps pay for the road to be paved themselves.