Pothole Patching Picks Up In January

NASHVILLE, TN -- Ice, snow and up and down temperatures caused a bevy of potholes across Davidson County in January, resulting in an increased number of repairs according to Metro Public Works.

The road department repaired 2,479 potholes in January, an increase of more than 11 percent over the 2,229 repaired in January 2017, WTVF reports.

Metro runs four repair trucks five days a week and attempts to have all pothole complaints resolved within 24 hours.

Potholes are caused by a combination of traffic stress and changing weather. Expansion and contraction from freezing water and melting ice exacerbates cracks caused by traffic, collapsing the top layer of a road surface, opening up a hole.

With icy conditions in Middle Tennessee often followed by prevailing south winds and warming temperatures, the region is an epicenter of potholes.

Lengthy winter weather events or long periods of frigid temperatures that result in roads refreezing cause a back-up in the repair process, because road treatment crews responsible for salting roads are often the same ones who fix potholes.

Drivers can report potholes on line and those that incur significant damage from potholes can file a claim with Metro, but to receive payment, drivers must prove negligence.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation has three crews that run five days a week to make repairs on state roads. Call TDOT pothole repair at 615-350-4300 to report a pothole on state roads or interstates.

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