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TWIN FALLS — Cycles of freezing, thawing and flooding have caused more than $9 million in road damage in Twin Falls.
As road crews scrambled to patch potholes before another round of snow last week, officials had preliminary estimates for road damage — and what the city will have to spend in addition to its regular maintenance.
But they don’t know about everything just yet, and it’s likely the city won’t realize the true impacts of this winter until two or three years from now, reported the Times-News.
“The damage to our roadways just from these winter events is right around $9.2 million,” City Manager Travis Rothweiler told the City Council on Tuesday.
About 23 lane miles of main roadways and 20 lane miles of residential streets will require partial or full reconstruction.
“That represents about 10 percent of the collectors and about 5 percent of the residential streets,” Rothweiler said.
The city still needs to set a schedule for repairs to be done when weather conditions allow for them. Some repairs can be paid for using the city’s reserves, city spokesman Joshua Palmer said.
The effects of road damage are also being felt by drivers, while auto repair and tire shops are reaping the benefits.
Boosting business
“We appreciate everything that nature throws at us,” Blue Lakes Auto Repair General Manager Dave Morrow said between answering phone calls and helping customers Thursday morning.
The business’ technicians had a nonstop load of work, fixing cars with a multitude of cold-weather related problems. Damaged roads contributed to a number of alignment checks the business has done this winter, Morrow said.
“It’s like milking cows,” he said about the seemingly never-ending work. “The cows gotta be milked.”
Related:
Winter weather puts Idaho town 10 years behind on road repairs
Winter storms have decimated miles of Rupert streets, mainly in residential areas, and put the city as many as 10 years behind on repairs.At OK Auto Systems Centers on Fourth Avenue West, snowy weather has been a blessing and a curse.
“We’ve sold more tire chains this year than we probably have in the last five to 10 years,” CEO James Tarter said. “… The bad part is, it’s also very difficult for us to get to work.”
And it’s also made it harder to get tire deliveries.
The potholes have also increased business at tire centers such as OK Auto Systems and Les Schwab Tires.
“It ruins tires, it ruins wheels,” said Dave Cox, general manager for Les Schwab Tires on Blue Lakes Boulevard North.
Newer cars, especially, are at a disadvantage, Tarter said. Car manufacturers have improved fuel economy with smaller tires and bigger wheels, but the smaller tires have less of a cushion to absorb the impact of hitting a pothole.
February is typically slower for business, Tarter said, due to the fact that people have already installed snow tires and there’s a lull in holiday travel. He awaits the time for seasonal tire changes with anticipation.
“All in all, it’s been very good for business,” Tarter said. “Right now, we’re wishing for spring just like you are.”
