Louisiana Pothole Problem? Here’s How to Report

We recently discovered that the pothole problem we have in Louisiana really isn't as bad as some have it in other states.

Get our free mobile app

However, it only takes one bad pothole to possibly ruin your day with tire damage or even a wreck.

And what you might not have known is that there is actually a way to properly report these potholes so they can hopefully be fixed before causing damage to any vehicle.

This line of thinking all began when I saw a post from my dear friend Dee Jaye on the Benton Louisiana Town Talk Facebook page.

She asked the question,

Who do we need to call to fix the growing pothole at the light at 162 and Benton Road, near the gas station, before it damages the front end of our cars? It’s getting worse by the day.

Who Do You Call To Report Pothole Or Road Hazard On Streets/Highways In Louisiana?

And the responses she got ran the full gamut, from some who just didn't really have an answer to others that were spot on.  There were comments like:

"Call Mike Johnson, 3rd in line to president surely can fix roads in his hometown. You would think?"

 

"If it’s on Benton Road (Hwy 3) call David North at 318-549-8300. If it’s on 162 call the Parish Courthouse at 318-965-2329 and they can tell you who the contact person is."

Where To Report A Pothole In Louisiana Really Depends On Which Road It's On

So, if you've discovered a potentially dangerous pothole or some type of road hazard, before you can report it, you really need to determine who you'll report it to.

Here's a good rule of thumb. If the road has LA preceding it's number, like LA 160 then that would be a Louisiana "State" road, so you would want to contact the LA DOTD in order to report.  To do that simply call 877-452-3683 or email dotdcs@la.gov.

If the road has US preceding its number, like US-20 or US-220, you would again report the issue to the LA DOTD at the number or email address above.

If the road is a "Parish" road, like possibly Swan Lake Road in North Bossier Parish or Blanchard Furrh road in Caddo Parish, you will need to contact the local parish Police Jury or Highway Department.

Now, if the road isn't a Federal, State or Parish road and it lies within the limits of a "City", those calls would go straight to that city's maintenance or highway department.

Now, if that pothole has actually caused damage to your vehicle, according to the LA DOTD, if it took place in the Northwest Louisiana parishes of Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, Desoto, Red River and Webster, you'll need to report that to (318) 549-8300 or 1-800-762-1852 and in some cases, it's possible that you can be reimbursed for repair costs.