I discovered a pothole. Now what? 

Ka-thump! Hearing and feeling a pothole impact while driving around is a familiar feeling for Michigan drivers. While the City of Jackson is not alone in this problem, there is something we can do about it! After a pothole is discovered, drivers are encouraged to report it to the City of Jackson so it can be taken care of as soon as possible. Here are a few options: 

1. SUBMIT A PHOTO AND DETAILS THROUGH THE CITY WEBSITE

It's very simple. Remember where the pothole was located and take a photo if you are able. Go to the Report a Concern feature of the City website and fill out a quick form. You can also send in a photo of the pothole if you have one. City staff will follow up if they have any questions. 

2. CALL THE DEPT. OF PUBLIC WORKS AT 517-788-4170

Staff from the Department of Public Works (DPW) are ready to assist residents Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (excluding holidays). Call 517-788-4170 to report a pothole. Save this number in your phone if you frequently experience potholes! It's very helpful to staff if you know the street with the pothole problem, including the cross streets. Example: "The pothole is located on east-bound W. Michigan Avenue between S. West Avenue and S. Grinnell Street." 

3. KNOW THE POTHOLE COULD BE OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS

The pothole you experienced could be located outside the City of Jackson in a neighboring township, meaning there is nothing we can do about it. A map on the City website shows the City boundaries. If the pothole is outside the City of Jackson, please contact the Jackson County Department of Transportation (JDOT). If the pothole is on an Interstate or State Highway, you'll want to contact the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). 

What we do about potholes

After a pothole is reported, DPW crews work as quickly as possible to get it repaired. Employees in the DPW administration place the pothole on a service list for street crews to resolve. Potholes that are impeding traffic, damaging vehicles, or causing injury are given first priority. The potholes are repaired using asphalt. In addition to resolving potholes reported by residents, DPW crews go out on "pothole patrol" throughout the year to proactively patch potholes along streets all over Jackson. 

There currently is no system to track the status of the pothole that you reported. DPW staff are always available during business hours to answer your related questions. 

Street improvement projects

The long-term solution to battling potholes is totally replacing the street surface. Thankfully, the City of Jackson does construction on numerous streets every year. See the City's Street Construction Schedule to see which streets are planned for construction. A more extensive explanation about how we go about doing street improvements is located in the Paving Jackson section of the website.