Resurfacing starts early in Chicago due to mild winter, less potholes

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago drivers may notice crews filling potholes in the city Monday, as paving season begins.

Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Rebekah Scheinfeld said the department can resurface more streets because of the relatively mild winter.

"Asphalt plants are opening earlier than usual. Usually, asphalt plants are opening in mid-April this year. We've already had a few open in March," Scheinfeld said.

Crews also have less potholes to fill this year. City officials said the number of potholes reported through 311 from January to March of 2016 is down 30 percent compared to the same time period in 2015.

To report a pothole in Chicago:

-By phone: Dial 311

-Online: Visit cityofchicago.org

-By text: 311-311 enter the word "Chicago" in the text line and follow the prompts.

The city has identified the first 55 miles of streets to be paved this year:

-Martin Luther King Drive from Cermak Road to 37th St. (1.9 miles)

-Martin Luther King Drive from 87th St. to 95th St. (1 mile)

-California Ave. from 79th St. to 87th St. (1 mile)

-S. Michigan from 103rd St. to 111th St. (1 mile)

-43rd St. from State Street to Cottage Grove (1 mile)

-Harrison St. from Kedzie to Damen (1.5 miles)

-26th St. from Sacramento to Western (0.75 mile)

-Kostner Ave. from North Ave. to Chicago Ave. (1 mile)

-Jackson Blvd. from Austin to Laramie and Pulaski to Hamlin (total 1.25 miles)

-Central Park Ave. from Roosevelt to Cermak and 26th St. to 31st St (total 1.5 miles)

-Kostner from North Ave. to Chicago Ave. (1 mile)

-Irving Park Road from Cumberland to Forest Preserve Ave. (1.3 miles)

Last week, crews ground the surface on South Halsted from West 41st to South Archer and on North Caldwell from West Devon to North Cicero. They'll lay a new asphalt surface on those stretches this week.

The work may cause traffic delays. The project on the Northwest Side is expected to last at least two weeks.