Dramatic swings in weather ruin roads
Road crews have been out in force this week, trying to patch the cracks and holes in the highways that appeared after a stretch of bitter cold and subsequent thaw.
Late winter is a time for road repairs, as more potholes appear on central Ohio’s roadways during swings in the temperature. But a dramatic change from Jan. 31, when temperatures were well below zero, to Thursday, when the high of 62 broke the record for the day, exacerbated the problem, road officials said.
To top it off, heavy rain Thursday filled some potholes, obscuring them from unsuspecting motorists.
“This is the season for potholes,” Ohio Department of Transportation spokeswoman Breanna Badanes said.
Road workers have moved from clearing snow and ice to patching potholes, she said.
Water seeps into cracks in roads when it rains or snows, then expands when it freezes. “That disrupts the pavement,” said Michael Liggett, community relations coordinator for the Columbus Department of Public Service.
“It’s a year-round issue in terms of managing the streets,” Liggett said. “But you definitely see a lot more occurrences in the winter months.”
As of Tuesday, ODOT crews had used 2,574 tons of asphalt to repair potholes this winter, compared with 2,180 tons this time last year. Work crews in ODOT District 6, which includes Franklin County, had used 945 tons of asphalt as of Tuesday, compared with 394 tons this time last year.
This season saw a late start to winter, and warmer temperatures gave crews more opportunity to work, which is one reason more asphalt has been used this winter, Badanes said.
In cold temperatures, crews are only able to make temporary fixes. The temperature needs to be well above freezing for the hot asphalt to properly bind to the existing pavement, Liggett said.
In the meantime, the cycle is likely to continue.
After 0.94 of an inch of rain fell Thursday — another record for the day — temperatures
are expected to fall into the 20s Friday, the National Weather Service said. That means crews likely will return to clearing snow and ice before transitioning back to patching potholes once it is warmer, Badanes said.
Columbus has a claims process for vehicles that suffer damage from potholes. Owners can contact the city’s service center by dialing 311 or visit the center’s website and provide the location of the hole, then submit information that includes pictures of the damage to the car and an estimate of repair costs. The city sends investigators to the location of every reported pothole to verify it exists.