Spokane woman claims potholes are affecting her physical health

Drew Reeves by Drew Reeves

For months, drivers had to deal with ice and snow, now they’re facing another problem — potholes. One woman even says these potholes are a hazard to her health.

Nancy Sonduck is an Uber driver who was injured in a car accident in August. She says she was on the road to recovery, but after driving over potholes, that work is being undone. She describes it as “physical carnage.” Sonduck goes to multiple appointments a day to get relief from whiplash and other injuries.

“By the time I hit two potholes, we’ve undone everything we’ve done and it’s like I’m back to square one,” she said.

She also says she can’t drive Uber at night, because she can’t see the potholes. That is allegedly affecting her income.

“My income has gone down from $500 to $800 a week… this week it’s $150,” she said.

But, Sonduck hasn’t taken her complaints up with the city. Spokane says it hasn’t heard any stories similar to Sonduck’s.

“We really haven’t had anybody that I’m aware of that called about injuries,” said Marlene Feist, communications manager for the City of Spokane Public Works Department.

Feist says this year has been worse for potholes than recent years. Hundreds of people have complained about problem areas, and she says the city is doing its best to keep up.

“How soon it gets repaired really depends on how large that pothole is and if it’s on an arterial or residential street, that kind of thing,” Feist said.

The city says it has filled 759 potholes since the first of the year, all varying in size. Sonduck says she understands not every pothole can be filled right away, but thinks the city can still do more.

“I understand it takes a while to fill in those pot holes when they’re out there doing that, but what can we do in the meantime? Put a cone, put a sawhorse with an arrow to indicate that’s not a safe line of travel,” said Sonduck.

The city says in the winter it has to use a different mixture to fill potholes that can withstand the cold. That mixture can keep potholes sealed of several years, or re-open in the same winter.

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