Faded Lane Stripes Also A Traffic Hazard
Faded Lane Stripes Also A Traffic Hazard Save Email Print
Crews repainting roads along with filling potholes
Posted: 10:49 PM Apr 14, 2008
Last Updated: 12:48 AM Apr 15, 2008
Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com

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Road repair continues in Omaha as the weather warms up. A concern for many drivers is not just the abundance of potholes, but the lack of visible lane markings.

"The potholes are really bad this year, they're all over," says one driver.

"In the midtown area they're a lot worse than out west," says Michael McCauley of Omaha.

And sometimes you don't know where you should be driving. "A lot of times they're being worn away," says Karin Clarkson of Omaha.

On a stretch of Farnam just east of Mutual of Omaha, the stripes have completely worn away. “You can't really tell which lane is which and they merge together so it's kind of hard to really tell once the winter gets away, which way the striping goes and which lane is what," says Clarkson.

"Especially on Dodge and when you get farther down, it's faded in the night when you're driving, really hard to see,” says McCauley. “Kind of worries you that you are going to hit something."

The problem is being addressed. Crews are out repainting lanes across the city. The city budgeted more than $1.3 million for lane striping this year. That's 870 lane miles or a drive from Omaha to Salt Lake City.

The city is looking into more permanent markings for lanes. A special tape is used that does not wear down as much during the winter.

As for the other problem, potholes. "I just ran into a pothole the other day and had to replace a tire," says Clarkson.

While most of the main roads have had some attention, other areas are in desperate need of help. "I could point out a few spots they could patch," says a driver.

Crews are also out filling potholes. Omaha's asphalt repairs will stretch nearly 1,700 miles or a drive from Omaha to San Diego.

Clarkson says we need to be patient. "Just have to take your time and just watch out for the holes in the street."

If you have a favorite pothole on your driving route that needs attention, call the city’s 24-hour pothole hotline, 444-4919.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: Mary O. on Apr 15, 2008 at 08:43 PM
None of the potholes are favorites of mine. My favorites are smooth roads.

Posted by: Biff on Apr 15, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Get off the phone, quit stuffing your face, slow down to the speed limit, and you'll have much less of a problem staying within the lines (faded or not) because then you might be able to pay better attention to what you're doing.

Posted by: Scott on Apr 15, 2008 at 11:12 AM
One more thing...can the city also focus on replacing the large number of curbside sewer openings? Many have been "eroded" by de-icing materials over the years, exposing rebar and creating bigger dangers for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Posted by: Scott on Apr 15, 2008 at 11:07 AM
Potholes, chuckholes...whatever you want to call them...There are many still along L Street/Industrial Road and Center Road. As far as line striping is concerned, why can't the city set reflective stripes and reflectors into the road so as not to get scraped off by plows? Many northern cities do this, which help immensely during periods of rain...and snow for that matter. It may cost a little bit more, but the city should see savings in the long run not having to send out paint crews every year. Oh yeah, they all [the streets] don't get repainted every year, leaving us guessing where our driving lanes stop and start.

Posted by: ricochet000 on Apr 15, 2008 at 10:02 AM
JW - Yeah, that was the first promise Fahey made when he campaigned for Mayor, the pothole and highway stripes...give me a break...

Posted by: Jen on Apr 15, 2008 at 09:03 AM
Are you serious- you cannot seem to find any potholes? You must not have come out of hibernation yet and taken a ride in a car over the past couple of months :-)

Posted by: Well on Apr 15, 2008 at 04:24 AM
Maybe you didn't read the whole article , but the money has been budgeted for the project. It is also set to begin the repainting . So no the promise wasn't broken . Crews just haven't been able to get out yet. Where are these potholes everyone complains about . I cannot seem to find any for the life of me

Posted by: dude on Apr 15, 2008 at 12:52 AM
to JW...I don't understand your campaign promise broken by mayor...it appears they are fixing the potholes... and isn't this paint problem a yearly issue...

Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 15, 2008 at 12:50 AM
people will find anything and everything to complain about. here's and idea, deal with it.

Posted by: J.W. on Apr 15, 2008 at 12:17 AM
Yet another campaign promise broken by the mayor.....

Posted by: Yeah on Apr 14, 2008 at 11:38 PM
Better raise taxes again to fix this little problem.

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