Potholes
‘Lots of freeze-thaw cycles’ keeping PennDOT busy
The winter cycle in Warren County goes like this… freeze-thaw-pothole.
“This year we’ve had lots of freeze-thaw cycles,” PennDOT Warren County Maintenance Manager Adam Elms said. “That means any time the roadway dips below 32 degrees, it freezes, and any water in it expands, and that weakens the bond and creates potholes.”
Then, traffic makes them worse.
“Whenever there’s water, snow, or ice in the potholes, the pressure from the wheels on the water — hydraulic pressure — causes the holes to get bigger,” Elms said. “This is like hitting it with a pressure washer every time someone drives over it.”
“One of the biggest issues is the age of the road,” he said. “The typical road has a 10- to 12-year life span. We have about 35 miles of high-level roadways that have exceeded that life span.”
“Hot topics would be Route 69 — 17 years old,” Elms said. “Route 6 in the western part of the county is 15 years old.”
While he is hopeful that those roads get an injection of youth, Elms could not say when that might happen.
Until then, the department can respond to the potholes through patching.
At this time of year, that means cold patching.
Crews were out on Route 62 in southern Pine Grove Township on Wednesday.
“We run two crews, pretty much every day, when we’re not doing storm patrol,” Elms said. “We’re using cold-mix material that we make in the county. It’s more cost-effective to make it.”
“Cold patch is a temporary fix,” he said. “It just doesn’t bond. It stays pliable in temperatures like this.”
It’s not as effective as hot patching, but it’s available.
“Hot material is not available typically until April,” he said.
Motorists who notice particularly problematic areas may call the department. “We do encourage people to call,” Elms said.
The Warren County maintenance office can be reached at 723-3500. PennDOT’s statewide roadway maintenance number is (800) FIX-ROAD. Elms said reports may also be lodged on the department’s website.
“We’ve been prioritizing the roads based on the amount of cars they get and the severity of the holes,” he said. “If you see rough areas, reduce your speed.”
And he asked that motorists be mindful or workers. “Watch out for the crews,” he said.
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