In the last couple of weeks you have have noticed more potholes when driving around, and you are not the only one.
The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) says pothole season is off to a busy start this year as a number of roads and interstates are inundated with these nemeses.
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MDOT SHA says between record-setting rain in the last year and the freeze and thaw cycle in the last couple of months, potholes are popping up everywhere. A pothole is formed when moisture seeps into the pavement crack and freezes, and then thaws in warmer weather. This process stresses out the pavement and then potholes form.
To combat the pesky potholes, MDOT SHA crews say they have been deploying mobile work zones to use cold patch asphalt as a temporary fix. They say when the temperatures consistently rise to 50 degrees and higher, they can switch to a more permanent hot-mix asphalt to seal the potholes.
It costs around $95 per pothole that is repaired, and officials say in 2018, MDOT SHA patched around 25,000 square yards of potholes and it cost them $3.1 million.
If you see a pothole on a state road, the MDOT SHA wants you to report it to them. You can click here to see which roads are state roads. The best way to report potholes is to go on MDOT SHA's website and click on the "Contact Us" button.
