Drivers Encouraged to Report Potholes to Public Works (posted March 7, 2014) Potholes are formed when snow and ice melt as part of Wisconsins seasonal freeze/thaw cycles. Water seeps beneath the pavement throught cracks that have formed over time. As temperatures drop to below freezing, water becomes ice and expands below the roadway surface, forcing the pavement to rise. Continued traffic over the raised portion of roadway and above freezing temperatures that thaw the formed ice create a void. The asphalt over the void breaks away, revealing a pothole. The extreme cold this winter has caused the frost to go much deeper than usual and many roadways are already in rough shape due to significant heaving and deteriorating pavement. Salt application to roadways exacerbates the freeze/thaw action in cracks in the pavement. The unusual number of winter events this season, including two freezing rain events, has increased the number of times we have applied salt. During the winter, temporary cold asphalt patching is performed to fill potholes. A permanent hot patch can be applied during the spring and summer months. The City of Appleton is encouraging drivers to report potholes. If you would like to report a pothole, please contact us at 832-5580. Please make sure to have as much detail as possible regarding the location, condition and size of the pothole.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 14:58:47 +0000
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