JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville residents are sick of dodging potholes.
After receiving hundreds of submissions from News4JAX viewers on Tuesday about the state of some roads in Jacksonville, our crews took to the streets where we found no lack of potholes.
MORE | After days of rain, potholes becoming an increasing issue on Jacksonville area roads
Local drivers like Neal Bradley say it’s getting old.
“I think it’s getting worse. They’re spending money in other places instead of fixing the potholes,” Bradley said. “It’s a lot of them everywhere and sometimes you can’t see them, and you run over them accidentally because you can’t see them until you get up on them.”
The holes are sometimes costly for drivers too. Jeff McMillan said he had to take his car to the shop because of a large pothole in Riverside.
“I think it’s dangerous. I’ve had problems with my car with the tires on my car, I had problems at the Publix parking lot here in Riverside,” McMillan said.
Mayor Donna Deegan is asking for patience from the community as the city works to address the issues as quickly as it can.
“I’m sure it’s frustrating for folks because the heavy rain really has wreaked a lot of havoc,” Deegan said.
The most important thing drivers can do is report potholes as they see them on the road by calling 904-630-CITY.
“Let us know the location, give us the information, a ticket will go out, and public works will go out and address those at a rate that is most severe to least severe. So, that’s the way to do it. We’ve been working very quickly, as you know, to clear everything to make it safe for drivers,” Deegan said.
News4JAX has been hearing from viewers about potholes all across town, including at the St. Johns Town Center, in Riverside, and on the north and west sides of Jacksonville.
“103rd St between I-295 and Ricker Rd, especially on the far-right lane. Had to get an alignment early and I know the roads in Jacksonville are the culprit,” one local driver said.
One viewer directed us to Park Street in Riverside where the road is in rough shape.
A few blocks away on Post Street, News4JAX found FDOT crews repairing massive potholes. Most people News4JAX talked to described the stretch of road as one big headache.
“It’s like driving drunk on some of the streets even before we had all the rain. Dodging the potholes on Park Street in Riverside has been a long-standing joke,” one viewer wrote.
A 2022 AAA survey found that 1 in 10 drivers sustained vehicle damage significant enough to warrant a repair after hitting a pothole. With an average price tag of almost $600 per repair, damage caused by potholes cost drivers $26.5 billion in just one calendar year, AAA said.
One of the causes of potholes is rain, and Northeast Florida has had plenty of that lately, so the possibility of more potholes popping up is real.
So who’s responsible for the damage if you hit a pothole?
The short answer is you if you want the damage fixed quickly. In most cases, your car insurance policy will cover the damages after your deductible is paid.
But if you think the city or state should be held responsible, there’s also an option to file a damage claim with the city of Jacksonville or the Florida Department of Transportation. There’s no guarantee in these cases that the damage will be covered.
Most importantly:
- Take pictures of EVERYTHING
- And file a police report for a record of the incident
- Then you can file a claim
If a pothole on a city-owned street got you, call 904-630-City to file a claim. If it was a state highway, go to FDOT.com/legal.
In both cases, each claim is unique and will require an independent investigation. So, you could be waiting weeks if not months for an answer to your claim which can always be denied.