The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
PERFECT RECIPE FOR POTHOLE MISERY
More freeze/thaw cycles making for a worse season
It’s been a unique winter, Geauga County Engineer’s Office Administrator Frank Antenucci said.
It can be in the 30s one day and 70 the next. That’s bad news for roads (and potentially your car).
The freeze/thaw cycle helps weaken the pavement, making them more prone to potholes. With more freeze/thaw cycles this year, area departments are seeing worse roads than usual.
When water freezes, it expands. Water that gets into cracks in the road pushes outward when it freezes, which the cracks bigger.
There are other variables that factor in to pothole formation. Mentor Public Works Director Matt Schweikert said those include traffic volumes and weight of vehicles.
“Also, it may take years for problems to develop,” he said.
Lake County Assistant Chief Deputy Engineer Traci Salkiewicz said they saw an increase in pothole complaints starting
There are other variables that factor in to pothole formation.
in mid-January.
Both Salkiewicz and Antenucci said they’ve had crews out patching the holes.
“We’re doing the best we can until the asphalt plant opens and can make a more permanent fix,” Salkiewicz said.
She’s hoping the plants open early this year. Usually they open around mid-April.
Avoiding potholes
“Potholes can wreak havoc on your car’s tires, wheels, shocks and struts, tie rods, ball joints, control arms … and the list goes on,” AAA stated.
It can also damage your wallet. The agency said the average auto repair cost for pothole-related damage is $306.
“Hitting a pothole – or taking the wrong measures to avoid one — can also lead to a crash resulting in injuries or worse,” AAA stated. “A blown tire or broken suspension part can cause you to lose control of your vehicle, as can a split-second decision to stomp on the brakes or suddenly swerve out of your lane to avoid a pothole.”
AAA tips to protect you, your car and your wallet from pothole damage:
• Make a habit of checking your tires for proper inflation.
• When behind the wheel, eliminate distractions and look ahead for roadway hazards.
• Maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, and be wary of puddles that may conceal potholes.
• Check your surroundings for collision threats before attempting to dodge a pothole. If you cannot avoid one, slow down, but release the brakes and straighten the steering wheel just before impact to help minimize any damage.