PADUCAH, KY- Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) crews across the region are taking on the battle against potholes this week.
Motorists are reminded to be alert for mobile pothole patching caravans on the road during daylight hours for the remainder of the week. While the battle with potholes never stops, highway crews are entering the main part of pothole patching season.
Extreme cold last week gave way to above normal temperatures this week. Those swings from extreme low temperatures to more normal daytime highs create ideal conditions for pothole formation.
There’s actually a lot of science involved with pothole formation. The extreme cold causes moisture in the roadway base to freeze and expand. That forces gravel in the road base to push upward on the pavement above it. When warm temperatures thaw the base, it drops back into place creating a void beneath the pavement. When the tires of passing vehicles compress the pavement, it pops out to create a pothole.
Constant freezing and thawing as winter transitions into spring helps to kickstart potholes. The ability to permanently fill potholes is somewhat limited until asphalt plants start opening up in mind-March to provide crews with hot mix that can seal out water to prevent potholes from reforming.
For a video illustrating how this process works, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKfnOeTfrhI.
To report a pothole please take note of the route number, a nearby landmark, crossroad, or milepoint. You can then go to the Report A Pothole link at
https://transportation.ky.gov/DistrictOne/Pages/default.aspx, or you can call 1-877-FOR-KYTC. If the pothole is on a county road or city street, please contact the road department for your city or county.
To get traffic advisories and alerts via email go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/KYTC/signup/13651 and click on counties in Kentucky you regularly drive through or on any of the specialty corridors you travel. Be sure to check your SPAM filtering to assure Gov Delivery is on your approved list.
Timely traffic advisories for the 12 counties of KYTC Highway District 1 are available by going to www.facebook.com/kytcdistrict1. You do not have to be a Facebook member to access this page.
Navigate traffic at goky.ky.gov, at waze.com, or with the WAZE App.