MIAMI VALLEY - The Ohio Department of Transportation is working to keep roads as smooth as possible for drivers during the winter; however, with the rise and fall of temperatures roads tend to develop more potholes.
Potholes are typically created when water enters pavement through a small crack. This can be where pavement sections adjoin or are adjacent to a bridge. As that water freezes and thaws, it expands and shrinks which breaks the pavement down, leading to deterioration and eventually a pothole.
There is no cure for potholes in the winter months, but crews work to patch them as quickly as possible. said Highway Management Administrator Scott Kasler, The only real fix is to remove the deteriorated pavement and replace it.
Due to colder temperatures, crews typically have to patch a pothole until it can be permanently repaired in the Spring. The two main products used for pothole repairs are hot mix asphalt and cold patch (another asphalt product). Hot mix asphalt is often the preferred method because it is typically more durable, but the primary plants that produce this material are not normally operating in the winter months. Cold patch is the most commonly used material as it widely available and is simple to place, although it may not be as durable as the hot mix.
In some rare cases crews may also use fast-setting concrete to handle a larger pothole that repeatedly deteriorates. This material requires a longer period of time to set, which means traffic is not able to drive on that portion of the road while the concrete hardens. The length of time it takes for the concrete to be strong enough to support traffic varies with the temperature. The colder the temperature the longer it takes.
Along with temperature, moisture has an effect on how well a patch holds. Moisture in the pavement or patching material will freeze and thaw with temperatures. This movement can dislodge a patch or cause it to crumble over time. The more freeze/thaw cycles you go through the more chance there is of patch failure. In other words, if it freezes and stays frozen, it is much better than the temperature going up and down frequently, as we have seen in recent weeks.
Last weeks early spring temperatures worked against us in several counties, said Roadway Services Manager Randy Sanders. However, early preventative measures avoided a lot of potholes in most of our problem areas.
ODOT crews will continue to repair potholes as they form. In the meantime, drivers should be aware of the process and stay alert for any changes in the pavement, especially in colder temperatures.
Potholes are typically created when water enters pavement through a small crack. This can be where pavement sections adjoin or are adjacent to a bridge. As that water freezes and thaws, it expands and shrinks which breaks the pavement down, leading to deterioration and eventually a pothole.
There is no cure for potholes in the winter months, but crews work to patch them as quickly as possible. said Highway Management Administrator Scott Kasler, The only real fix is to remove the deteriorated pavement and replace it.
Due to colder temperatures, crews typically have to patch a pothole until it can be permanently repaired in the Spring. The two main products used for pothole repairs are hot mix asphalt and cold patch (another asphalt product). Hot mix asphalt is often the preferred method because it is typically more durable, but the primary plants that produce this material are not normally operating in the winter months. Cold patch is the most commonly used material as it widely available and is simple to place, although it may not be as durable as the hot mix.
In some rare cases crews may also use fast-setting concrete to handle a larger pothole that repeatedly deteriorates. This material requires a longer period of time to set, which means traffic is not able to drive on that portion of the road while the concrete hardens. The length of time it takes for the concrete to be strong enough to support traffic varies with the temperature. The colder the temperature the longer it takes.
Along with temperature, moisture has an effect on how well a patch holds. Moisture in the pavement or patching material will freeze and thaw with temperatures. This movement can dislodge a patch or cause it to crumble over time. The more freeze/thaw cycles you go through the more chance there is of patch failure. In other words, if it freezes and stays frozen, it is much better than the temperature going up and down frequently, as we have seen in recent weeks.
Last weeks early spring temperatures worked against us in several counties, said Roadway Services Manager Randy Sanders. However, early preventative measures avoided a lot of potholes in most of our problem areas.
ODOT crews will continue to repair potholes as they form. In the meantime, drivers should be aware of the process and stay alert for any changes in the pavement, especially in colder temperatures.