Bellevue Patches Potholes In The Wake Of Winter Weather

BELLEVUE, WA — Bellevue transportation crews are continuing to check off repairs in the wake of recent snow, ice and heavy rain. City officials shared an update on some of the post-storm progress Thursday, including cleaning sand from snowplows, patching potholes and repairing damaged signs.

"The lengthy stretch of cold weather, plus ice, snow and rain, was a recipe for potholes," the city wrote in a social media post. "They are often formed when water from surface cracks seeps into the rock base, under the asphalt, the freeze-thaw cycle damages the base, then heavy vehicles pass over the roadway breaking up the asphalt and causing potholes to form."

Transportation leaders briefed the Bellevue City Council on its winter weather response earlier in the week, recapping how their crews tackled eight inches of snow and several days of sub-freezing temperatures.

Officials said more than 150 staffers across departments receive training for winter weather response, and crews were ready and in place to respond when snow began to fall just after Christmas. During the unusual weather event, Bellevue kept up operations around the clock, running snowplows 24/7 for 13 days, the city said. Crews prioritized clearing the city's primary routes, followed by neighborhood streets, many of which were coated with a thick layer of ice.

As temperatures failed to break freezing for several days, officials said community partners helped provide warm shelter for about 250 people experiencing homelessness across the Eastside.