Potholes on key St. Paul routes damage vehicles

St. Paul Public Works has posted 'rough road' caution signs on heavily damaged streets including Hamline Avenue, Vandalia Street, Shepard Road and Childs Road as winter potholes chew up pavement and vehicles across the city. The department says it is responding to resident complaints and working to improve conditions by spring, but has not given a full repair timeline or cost estimate. Longfellow Automotive manager Nick Holman tells FOX 9 this season is at least as bad as recent years, with snow hiding cratered spots and leading to blown tires, broken ball joints and bent control arms for drivers who can’t dodge the holes in time. The situation underscores how deferred maintenance and freeze‑thaw cycles are again turning core St. Paul routes into suspension killers, forcing metro drivers to eat repair bills while they wait for city crews to catch up.