Motorists in the 600 block of Boy Scout Road at Highway 153 deal with uneven pavement.BY THE NUMBERS2,309: Miles of roads within Chattanooga city limits$2 billion: Cost of those roadsROAD SPENDING• 2013 – $1,788,000• 2012 – $2,293,667• 2011 – $1,576,000• 2010 – $1,565,000• 2009 – $1,888,000• 2008 – $1,600,000• 2007 – $1,750,000Source: City of Chattanooga
A pothole is in the road near the intersection of Rossville Boulevard and Central Avenue.All roads lead somewhere. Chattanooga’s tend to lead to complaints.
From St. Elmo to Rossville to Hixson and elsewhere come complaints about rough surfaces, potholes and broken pavement that take a toll on vehicles and can lead to costly repairs.
At Higgens Tire and Auto Services on Hixson Pike, Leslie Higgens said customers come into the shop with bent wheels and blowouts, some blaming potholes.
And little wonder. A public works update released in April found that the city spent less than one-third of the money the department says is needed for road maintenance and upkeep. As a result, critics say, some of our most heavily traveled roads are rated as poor or failing today — parts of St. Elmo Avenue, McCallie Avenue, Central Avenue and Hixson Pike.