|
 "We're confident in the proven techniques the
department uses to effectively and safely repair roadways damaged by
frequent freeze-thaw cycles," said Illinois Transportation Secretary
Gary Hannig. "As the harsh winter begins to subside, IDOT's road
crews are out inspecting pavement and responding to calls about
pothole formation. State crews are promptly patching broken
pavements, but we do ask that motorists please slow down and be
attentive, as they are likely to encounter our workers patching
potholes and performing other winter maintenance tasks along the
roadways."
Potholes are caused by a combination of
factors, including gradual aging and deterioration of the roadway,
an unusually high level of moisture affecting roadways, and frequent
freeze-thaw cycles that can cause potholes to form overnight. The
formation of potholes is worsened by cold temperatures, as water
expands when it freezes to form ice and puts stress on cracked or
weakened pavement. Moisture that has seeped through cracks and
joints in pavement freezes and expands, causing the pavement to
bulge, heave and fracture. The damage is amplified by wear and tear
from traffic.
IDOT's road crews are patrolling Illinois
roadways across the state, looking for potholes and making repairs
using cold-patch asphalt material. The department also does
spray injection patching, using truck- and trailer-mounted equipment
to make repairs.
The public can help by reporting potholes to
IDOT by using the "Contact Us" link at
www.dot.il.gov or by calling
1-800-452-4368.
[Text from
Illinois
Department of Transportation file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |
