MODOT focusing on pothole repair through April
You can report potholes a number of ways.
With temperatures rising again after last week’s winter weather, the Missouri Department of Transportation is focusing on pothole repair through April.
MODOT wants to refresh the public’s memory of how potholes are formed via a news release:
“Potholes form when temperatures warm up during the day but continue to be cold at night. The rain and snow from winter leave moisture that seeps into cracks and joints in the pavement. Frozen water in cracks and under the surface of the roadway causes the pavement to bulge and bend. Then when ice melts, the pavement contracts and leaves gaps or voids in the surface under the pavement. When cars and trucks drive over the bulging pavement, it weakens the roadway eventually causing chunks of pavement or asphalt to pop out, creating potholes. Short-term repairs are made using a cold asphalt mix with a priority to fill the deepest potholes first. The long-term fix, a hot asphalt mix, isn’t effective until temperatures remain warm for a prolonged period.”
To report a pothole on a state road, call 888-275-6636 or visit modot.org.