Oak Forest Potholes: How The City Chooses Which Get Fixed

OAK FOREST, IL — A Patch reader reached out and asked: "Live near 156th and Leclaire. What is the city going to do about all of the pot holes growing on 156th? I have contacted the city about this about 18 months ago and they filled the holes with patch which didn't last long. Now the holes are getting bigger. What will the city of Oak Forest do?"

So we checked. Richard Rinchich, the city's director of public works, provided some insight into how Oak Forest chooses which potholes to fix and when.

The short answer? The department of public works fixes them on an as-needed basis.

"We actively patrol city streets during the winter as it is the high volume pothole season," he said. "Public Works also responds year round to our resident’s calling to report potholes."

Rinchich said that the streets department has patched a line of potholes east of Leclaire Avenue on 156th Street. They appear to be holding, he said.

Some new fixes are coming, he added.

"Further east the top layer of asphalt on a portion of 156th Street is coming apart at Lamon Ave. and we planned for this area will be fixed by the city’s contracted road paving program in the next four to six weeks(weather permitting). "

According to the city's website, these areas also have been patched:

• Chaucer from Geoffrey to 152nd Street
• Oxford from Vine to 151st Street
• Los Robles from Forestview to Catalina
• LaPalm Drive from Central to Mission
• Massasoit from Grange to Fern
• Lamon Avenue from 153rd Street to 156th Street
• Forest from 167th Street to Sycamore Lane

To report a problem in your area, you can call the public works department at 708-535-4090 from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can also file a report online.