Extreme cold, snow and ice cause more, deeper potholes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Potholes are appearing and expanding after rounds of extreme temperatures and wintry precipitation hit Mid-Missouri over the past few weeks.

In 2023, the Missouri Department of Transportation patched over 600,000 potholes and spent around $17.5 million, according to MoDOT. Most pothole repairs start in late February and continue to the end of April.

A cold asphalt mix is used when doing short-term patch work. MoDOT prioritizes filling the deepest potholes first. For a long-term fix, hot asphalt is used, although it won't be effective until Missouri sees warmer temperatures.

COLUMBIA PUBLIC WORKS USED SOMETHING CALLED CRACK SEALING, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO HELP PREVENT POTHOLES.

Columbia Public Works public information specialist John Ogan said they used something called crack sealing, which is supposed to help prevent potholes. "We had crews go out and seal cracks in the fall prior to the onset of winter weather," Ogan said. "So hopefully we see fewer potholes because of that. However, keeping water out of the base of the roadway is is nearly impossible." 

Potholes form when rain and snow leave moisture that seeps into cracks and joints in the pavement and later freezes. This frozen water expands within the pavement, causing it to bulge and bend. When the ice melts, gaps or voids are left in the surface and structure of the pavement. When cars and trucks drive over the bulging pavement, it weakens the road surface, eventually causing chunks of pavement or asphalt to pop out, creating potholes.

If you can't swerve and dodge a pothole, try to slow down before you hit it.

Other safety tips:

•   Don't brake directly over a pothole, as this can cause more damage.
•   When driving over the pothole, hold the steering wheel firmly to avoid losing control.
•   Use caution when driving over a puddle of water because it might be a pothole in hiding.
•   Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Properly inflated tires hold up better against potholes than tires with too much or too little air.

If your car is damaged by a pothole, you can file a claim with MoDOT and potentially be compensated. MoDOT will thoroughly investigate the facts surrounding the incident and expedite the processing as fast as possible.

Columbia Public Works and MoDOT are responsible for different areas and streets. Therefore people are encouraged to look at this map so they knew who to report the pothole to. The streets marked in red is Columbia Public Works jurisdiction. The streets marked in blue is under the Missouri Department of Transportation.

To report a pothole to MoDOT you can go to this website, here.

To report a pothole to Columbia Public Works you can call 573-874-CITY, by visiting Public Works Facebook or X pages and sending a message to us there, or via the internet at CoMo.gov/report-a-problem/.