FLINT, MI -- The city is asking drivers to use a newly dedicated hotline to report problem potholes in Flint.
Flint officials announced the hotline on Wednesday, Jan. 8, and said they want drivers to use it to report street cavities as they see them in advance of the spring thaw.
The pothole hotline number is 810-766-7343.
"The calls will go directly to street maintenance and be recorded and addressed from there," Kristin Moore, a city spokeswoman said in an email to MLive-The Flint Journal. "I'm not sure whether or not it's been promoted like this before, but this is definitely a fresh, more targeted approach by the administration to get residents more involved to help address the issue."
Potholes can be masked by snow and ice in the winter but typically come back as bigger headaches in the spring following months of freezing and thawing.
The city is asking residents to provide the exact location of potholes when calling the hotline, including the street name and nearest cross street or landmark.
Drivers can also leave their names and phone numbers if a follow-up call is necessary, per the city's announcement.
"We understand the frustration that potholes can cause drivers, and we are working diligently to improve the condition of our streets," Ed Taylor, chief of staff to Mayor Sheldon Neeley said in a statement issued by the city. "By working together and reporting issues, we can create safer and more reliable roads for everyone."
Director of Transportation Rodney McGaha has told members of the City Council that many Flint streets are in rough condition with only enough funding available to resurface the worst of the worst.
Two years ago, McGaha told the council he was trying to keep the streets safe despite not having the resources to give them a more permanent fix.