Indy Public Works to add 2nd shift to address potholes, street upkeep

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Pothole season in Indianapolis is about to ramp up and, with holes popping up on streets all around the city, the Department of Public Works has announced its hiring some reinforcements.

Indy drivers are already annoyed with the potholes on Indy’s streets.

Deon Green recently replaced his tires after they were popped driving over a pothole. “Up under the bridge down there, you got potholes big enough you could sleep in.”

Indianapolis resident Jacqulyn Murphy said, “There are some that are huge.”

Renee Larson lost her car a year ago after hitting a pothole. “You have to go into opposite traffic just to play dodge the pothole. It’s just a hot mess express.”

Ben Easley with Public Works said the department is trying to get ahead of the problem before it gets worse. “We are fully into pothole season. As you know, the weather is fluctuating. You see 60 degrees and then you see 28-degree days. So, we are seeing some of that street deterioration start to become more evident.”

The department is hiring a second shift of workers, 15 new permanent positions — 12 union positions and three supervisor positions — to work from 4 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on a variety of street issues, including filling potholes. Easley says the jobs start off paying $18 per hour. People can apply online.

The new shift was described as the first in the city’s history.

Easley said, “That really just allows us to stay engaged with some of those street maintenance operations that we’re doing throughout the entire day.”

Public Works crews just last week filled more than 10,000 potholes using cold patch. Hot patch can be used later this spring.

In the meantime, drivers can report potholes online. Motorists also say they’re glad to see work being done.

“Honestly, that is amazing. I would love to be able to see the roads being fixed around here. It’s horrible. Every year they get worse,” Murphy said.