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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 3, 2017
Winter Weather Means Pothole Season Is Near
Freezing Conditions, Snow Plows, and Heavy Traffic Contribute
to New Potholes
With winter weather in full swing,
the Indiana Department of Transportation reminds the public to be on the look
out for potholes on State, U.S. and Interstate Routes.
Potholes form when water seeps into
cracks on the roadway, freezes and then thaws. This process, combined with normal
highway traffic and snow removal operations can loosens the pavement creating
potholes.
Because winter weather conditions
take a larger than normal toll on the roads, INDOT makes pothole patching a
priority, especially after snow and ice events. During the winter months
asphalt plants are closed so a cold mixture is used to temporarily patch holes
until a permanent patch can be made in the warmer months. Cold mix is a combination
of small stone and liquid asphalt. Even after being filled with cold patch, the
same pothole requires ongoing maintenance and can reopen several times
throughout the winter
To report a pothole on a numbered
state route, interstate or U.S. highway, contact INDOT at 1-800-279-5758 or use
the “Report a Concern” tool at http//www.in.gov/indot/2330.htm. When calling, please indicate the address of
the pothole or nearest landmarks, the direction of travel (N, S, E or W) and
the specific lane (outside, middle, inside) of the pothole, so our crews can
quickly find and repair the pothole.
For the past several years, INDOT
has been expanding its Pavement Preservation Program to improve pavement
friction and seal tiny cracks before potholes form. For every dollar invested,
research estimates that pavement preservation saves taxpayers $6 to $14 in
future maintenance and construction costs.
Stay Informed
Motorists can learn about highway work zones and other traffic
alerts at indot.carsprogram.org, 1-800-261-ROAD (7623)
or 511 from a mobile phone.
Subscribe to receive text and email alerts about INDOT projects
at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/INDOT/subscriber/new.
Follow @INDOTSouthwest on Twitter and at Facebook.com/INDOTVincennesDistrict.
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