Metro Atlanta drivers face hefty repair costs from damage caused by rough road conditions

ATLANTA — The average driver can expect to pay hundreds of dollars in car repair bills for damages from potholes. It’s a problem many Atlanta drivers are facing.

Channel 2′s Ashli Lincoln spoke with a driver who says he is looking at paying thousands in costly repairs after hitting a pothole.

“It’s costing thousands of dollars, to get repairs,” William Lewis said.

“$6,000 right now,” Lewis said in reference to how much money damages from rough roads will cost him in repairs to work equipment.

“We got multiple pieces of equipment and in the repair shop right now, because of potholes? Of potholes,” Lewis said.

Lewis works for a local tree removal company. This week, Lewis says that while traveling down Beverly Road in the Sherwood Forest neighborhood, he hit a pothole that damaged a support beam under the trailer.

“On Beverly Road, it needs major help,” Lewis said.

Lewis says at least six pieces of equipment have been damaged this year by potholes.

“Trailers, Bobcats, chipper trucks, everything,” Lewis said.

Earlier this month, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced reviving the “pothole posse.” This is a group of Atlanta Department of Transportation workers who have been tasked with filling potholes in area neighborhoods.

“Living here on the hill with all the runoff, especially at this intersection, the potholes are a persistent issue,” Mike Scott, resident said.

The issues with potholes are not only a city of Atlanta issue.

In 2021, the city of South Fulton spent $16,000,000 to repave around 170 miles of roads.

Statewide officials plan to use $1.2 trillion in funds from the federal infrastructure package to address road concerns — $225,000,000 will go to fix state bridges, with another $8.9 billion going to fix roads and highways over five years.

“The roads in Atlanta, axles are breaking, the trailers are now snapping, tires are popping, the roads are that bad in Atlanta,” Lewis said.

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