The winter is tough on roads and causes many potholes. The pothole area is excavated and then filled with asphalt. The entire operation takes minutes for one pothole, but workers could be on a single road repairing potholes for multiple days, depending on the severity of the potholes.
MassDOT Pothole Repairs on I-93, Andover/Methuen, March 5, 2010
MassDOT crew repairs potholes on Interstate 93 southbound near River Road in the Andover/Methuen area. Pothole season is here, and MassDOT crews are out every day this time of year, repairing potholes that can damage vehicles and delay traffic.
Potholes result from the freeze-thaw cycle. Water from snow and rain seeps into small cracks in the roadway surface. As temperatures drop, the water freezes and expands, making the cracks bigger. Additional freezing and thawing will make these cracks larger until eventually, potholes form.
Heavy traffic, pavement age, vehicle weights, and snow and ice operations also contribute to the problem.
Crews make two types of repairs, depending on temperature and road conditions. A temporary "cold patch" is used at lower temperatures. Hot mix asphalt is applied at higher temperatures as a long-term fix.
MassDOT Pothole Repair, I-93, Andover/Metheun, March 5, 2010
MassDOT crew repairs potholes on Interstate 93 southbound near River Road in the Andover/Methuen area. Pothole season is here, and MassDOT crews are out every day this time of year, repairing potholes that can damage vehicles and delay traffic.