WHAM!
That sound and jolting sensation is all too familiar for drivers heading southbound on Mississippi Street while passing Memorial Stadium, heading toward the KU campus. For handfuls of years motorists have been running over a large storm drain which, over the years, has sunk down several inches into a deep crater.
For larger vehicles this crater may cause nothing more than just a small bump in the lives of the drivers. But as cars get smaller, more streamlined and fuel-efficient, this pock on the face of Mississippi Street will, and has, become a greater hazard and poses the risk of anything from tire damage, to steering alignment issues, to possibly—in rare instances—damaged shocks or even a harmed axle.
"There are no current plans for repair," admitted Dena Mezger, Assistant Public Works Director for the Lawrence Department of Public Works. "In a situation like this, when it involves storm water drains, it can be more complicated than just filling in a pothole."
The Public Works department provides both a link on their Web page and a telephone hotline that can be reached by calling (785) 832-3456 for citizens to report problems with Lawrence road infrastructure.
"I hate it. I always cringe a bit," acknowledged Lourdes Snapp, 2007 KU graduate and Jayhawk football fan. Snapp, who attends football games at adjacent Memorial Stadium, worries about the condition of her car's suspension system. "It wears the shocks on my car...when I hit [the crater] particularly hard."
The American Automobile Association (AAA) has several suggestions for protecting your vehicle from pothole damage. This list includes maintaining full tire pressure, leaving plenty of distance between your car and the car in front of you, slowing down when hitting a pothole, and more.
Comments (6)
It seems odd that the city has spent so much money on "traffic calming devices" and decided to neglect the general state of streets. I have a pothole outside of my house that vehicles hit constantly. When I reported it, I was told they would put it on the list, but that was over a year ago.
Posted by Adam Pousson | November 26, 2007 2:02 PM
Posted on November 26, 2007 14:02
Yes! This definitely needs some work. I know you said it shouldn't affect larger vehicles as much, but I drive a truck and still cringe at this one. I lived at Berkeley Flats for two years, and I can remember being jolted every time I hit it. It just screams, "I'm going to cave in!" Glad you brought it to attention.
Posted by Katy Blair | November 26, 2007 5:14 PM
Posted on November 26, 2007 17:14
You would think this would be first on the list of things to fix. I am not a taxpayer of KS but if I was I would be complaining. By the looks of the picture it looks pretty dangerous to me. Good article Karsten
Posted by Bob Santi | November 26, 2007 6:29 PM
Posted on November 26, 2007 18:29
I agree this pot hole should be fixed, im always afraid of getting a flat tire when i drive over it. Its ridiculous.
Posted by Anonymous | November 26, 2007 7:08 PM
Posted on November 26, 2007 19:08
Are you kidding me? More complicated than filling in a pothole? Hello?! Does The Lawrence Department of Public Works want to be responsible when that hole finally does cave in and the person who caused it is injured or WORSE?
Posted by Vincent S. | November 26, 2007 9:39 PM
Posted on November 26, 2007 21:39
I totally agree with all of the above comments. Thousands of dollars on roundabouts is A-OK, but work on current street conditions-not so much. I no longer live in lawrence, but I remember many areas on the lawrence streets that are unsafe to this day.
Posted by Amanda H. | November 27, 2007 8:02 AM
Posted on November 27, 2007 08:02