Pothole season arrives in mid-Missouri as warmer temperatures approach
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri Department of Transportation and City of Columbia Public Works crews are expecting more potholes, as warmed temperatures move into Mid-Missouri in the spring.
According to MoDOT, March is normally the peak month for potholes.
Columbia Public Works spokesman John Ogan said that potholes tend to form when temperatures fluctuate between above and below freezing.
When warm water flows into pavement cracks this destabilizes the pavement, making it vulnerable to breaking when cars drive over it, causing potholes, according to Ogan.
According to MoDOT, the department patched over 570,000 potholes in the state in 2024. During the week of Feb. 24, the department filled over 13,000 potholes.
The City of Columbia doesn't track the number of potholes patched. However, crews have been walking along residential roads and patching every pothole they find.
ABC 17 News spoke to over thirty people, with a handful of people mentioning notable pothole locations including the Business Loop, on the onramp from Highway 63 to I-70 and a few residential roads.
"I've gone over a gnarly pothole before... right around Hickman, where I thought my car was literally going to be busted from it because it was so jarring," Columbia resident Gretchen Wood said.
The majority of people claimed potholes weren't a notable issue, with some visitors from St. Louis claiming the City of Columbia's were better kept.
"I very much appreciated the resurfacing of Stadium. iI was also fantastic, especially over towards campus in the east and the stadium that was one of the worst spots in town," Columbia resident Jake Meyer said.
Both MoDOT and the City of Columbia encourage residents to report potholes.
Ogan said that once a pothole is reported, the city tends to have the pothole patched within one to three business days.
"I definitely have noticed that they try to keep up on it but especially with all the winter weather we've had this year, it's going to be nasty, I'm sure," Meyer said.
According to MoDOT, pothole patching vehicles were hit 35 times in 2024. They encourage drivers to be mindful when crews are on the road.
