Kennewick splits budget for pothole, road repairs

A rough winter in the Tri-Cities has left area roads in even rougher shape.

Evelyn Lusignan with the city of Kennewick says their road crews have already patched about 1,000 potholes since the snow melted.

"Some of them have had to be filled multiple times, just due to the temporary nature of the patch, until we can get a more permanent repair," Lusignan said.

City council members and other officials took part in a field trip of sorts before Tuesday night's city council meeting, to get a first-hand look at some of the worst spots in Kennewick.

The city had budgeted $1.6 million for the year re-pave several roads this summer, but damage from winter weather has forced a change of plans.

"That money was largely intended for overlay projects," Lusignan said. "But with the repairs that we have to do, at least half of those dollars will be going toward repairs."

Pothole repairs will begin in June. Overlay projects will get started in August, but not until a consultant has surveyed the roads that need overlay work.

"They'll be rating the condition of each street, and then we'll be able to make decisions about what roads need repairs first," Lusignan said.

Budget limitations mean some overlay projects that might have been completed this year, will have to be moved to next year.