Mild winters are harsh on Michigan roads

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017

 

CONTACT: John Richard, MDOT Office of Communications, 616-262-1565 richardj2@michigan.gov

 

Mild winters are harsh on Michigan roads

Fast facts:

- Michigan roadways become vulnerable to damage during unseasonably warm temperatures.

- Extreme thaws create unstable, soft roadbeds that are susceptible to potholes.

- To report a pothole, call MDOT's Pothole Hotline toll-free at 888-296-4546, or go to https://goo.gl/x6Rgo9.

 

February 7, 2017 -- Unseasonably warm temperatures provide a nice break from Michigan's long winter. But they also offer another break that's not so nice. With each sustained warm-up, the roads that have been frozen begin to thaw from the surface downward, and the melting snow and ice saturate the ground. The roadbed, softened by trapped moisture beneath the pavement, is more susceptible to damage during every significant thaw. A sustained thaw typically happens only once a year in the spring but not this year. Continuous temperatures above and below freezing have created several freeze-thaw cycles, which also create potholes.

"It's normal to get a few days throughout the winter that are warmer than usual, but this year has been unusually sporadic," said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. "Extreme temperature fluctuations create many issues for road maintenance."

Potholes are most prevalent during freeze/thaw cycles, when water penetrates the pavement surface and refreezes, pushing the pavement up. Vehicles then push the pavement back down, breaking it and starting a pothole. For a visual, click here- http://www.michigan.gov/documents/MDOT_birthofPOTHOLE_91772_7.pdf

 

"The quicker we know about where potholes are forming, the sooner we can get them patched," added Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Engineer of Operations Mark Geib. "Patching them won't last, but will help get us through until warmer temperatures are sustained."

             If you spot a pothole on an I-, US- or M-route, you can report it to the MDOT Pothole Hotline at 888-296-4546, by going online to MDOT's "Report a Pothole" website at https://goo.gl/x6Rgo9, or by calling your local MDOT Transportation Service Center (TSC) or region office.

###

 

Download MDOT's Mi Drive traffic information app: www.michigan.gov/drive

 

www.michigan.gov/drive  |  www.twitter.com/MichiganDOT  |  www.facebook.com/MichiganDOT​