The City of Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services’ Street Maintenance Division is out in force today, Saturday, on Wilshire Boulevard taking their hot asphalt to what has become a sea of potholes.
A total of 15 Street Maintenance employees are working different sections of Wilshire with 6 trucks. Just before 8a this morning, the crews set up as follows:
- 2 trucks at Highland and Wilshire – heading East
- 2 trucks at La Brea and Wilshire – one truck heading East; one truck heading West
- 2 trucks at Fairfax and Wilshire – heading East
The crews are working to get as much filled as possible today from Fairfax Avenue to Wilton Place. Repair work includes both sides of Wilshire – eastbound and westbound.
The process is simple – the workers lay down an emulsion in and around the pothole that acts as an adhesive for the asphalt. Then the truck full of hot asphalt moves in and releases piles of asphalt in the area to be repaired. Crews move in and spread the asphalt evenly in and around the potholes – of course, the asphalt is very hot so this part of the work requires some pretty thick-toed work boots. After the asphalt is spread and sits a bit, a crew member runs a machine over the patch to pack the asphalt down.
Traffic is moving through the area, but it’s likely that there will be delays as the traffic increases throughout the day. Potential delays along Wilshire, and at major cross street intersections between Wilton Place and Fairfax.
It should be a perfect time to do this patch work because we are past the rainy season. Water is a key enemy of asphalt and the absence of water will help the asphalt to hold up longer.
As the Larchmont Buzz reported in a prior story, Councilman Tom La Bonge secured funding for this project back in March. La Bonge was on hand this morning to greet crew members and assure the community that he knows repairs along Wilshire can’t wait for the BRT and Purple Line projects to start. Wilshire is too important of a transportation corridor and he will continue to push for more permanent-temporary solutions to make the necessary fixes.
PHOTO GALLERY
Why all this fuss about Wilshire potholes? No one mentions 3rd Street. It’s so rough that those of us who ride the 3rd street buses get shaken to bits. Really uncomfortable.
You should send an email or call to Tom La Bonge’s office. All of these streets are bad. We just need to be the squeaky wheels and make sure they know where help is needed. Councilman La Bonge has been very responsive. Reach out to Field Deputy Ben Seinfeld – he is the Councilman’s contact for our neighborhood. Thanks! [email protected] (323) 957-6415