Here's how potholes are repaired and how you can report new ones or file a damage claim
It's that special time of year again. It's pothole season.
Holes ranging from a few inches wide to a couple of feet long can make for a bumpy ride along area roadways. And they also can put vehicles out of commission.
Bridge repair: Most area bridges are in good condition, some rated poor. Here's what that means for you
The time between winter and spring with the freezing and thawing is particularly hard on area roadways, said Edward Meixner, Ashland County Engineer.
Each season, hundreds of tons of materials are used to repair roads throughout Ohio.
Here's what you need to know about potholes in your area.
How do crews repair the roadways?
Ohio streets are largely split into three jurisdictions: City, state and county roads.
In Ashland County, Meixner sends crews out daily, otherwise, the holes would never get filled in a timely manner.
While his team searches for potholes to fill, Meixner also relies on reports from motorists, he said.
Construction: State Route 83 reconstruction has begun, don't expect it to fully reopen until late 2023
The same goes for Wayne County, which has at least one team in the field filling holes on any given day, according to the Wayne County Engineer's Office.
So far, Wayne County crews have responded to over 100 service calls in 2022, said Andrew Jones, assistant county engineer.
"Most days during the transition from winter to spring we have upwards of 10 employees working to mitigate the number of holes," Jones said.
Jones' team has used about 200 tons of materials and employed 2,200 man-hours in the last four months, he said.
To repair a pothole, his crew has a few different options.
"We make our own cold mix material to not only save on costs but to use a specific recipe that works for our area," Jones said. "Cold mix is around $110 per ton commercially, but we make it for $67.90 per ton."
The county also uses hot mix asphalt when that becomes locally available, which is $65 per ton, he said.
"Unfortunately, potholes are a natural occurrence in Ohio and we do our best to respond and fix them as quickly as we can," said Scott Miller, Wayne County engineer.
How do potholes form? And where should you report new ones?
This winter saw temperatures rise and fall below freezing multiple times through the season, said Jones. As water seeps between the cracks in the road, repeated nighttime freezes and daytime thaws weaken the structure.
Road salt exacerbates this temperature cycle, said Meixner.
"Salt is put on the road and what the salt does is it increases the frost cycles the road would experience," he said.
Fluctuating temperatures coupled with heavy traffic cause roads to decay, creating potholes, Meixner said.
To report potholes in Ashland County, visit the Ashland County Engineer website or call 419-282-4281.
Wayne County residents should call 330-287-5500, visit the engineer's office website, the office's Facebook page, or email the office at Contact@Wayne-County-Engineer.com.
Prioritizing pothole fixes on different roads
Repair crews often prioritize potholes like snow removal is prioritized on roadways during winter. The most traveled routes are tackled first before moving onto side streets and less trafficked roads.
This is largely true in Wooster, but crews can reprioritize streets based on need.
"Potholes on our highways and primary corridors are patched first," according to the city website. "But if large potholes are causing significant problems in any of our roadways then they get addressed as soon as possible."
While repaving a road is often the best solution, crews cannot redo every road each season, so temporary repairs are made, according to the city.
As of April, city crews have focused on highways and primary corridors.
Annually, the city of Wooster expects to spend an estimated $250,000 in labor and materials on potholes, especially following a severe winter.
Can the city reimburse drivers for vehicle damages caused by potholes?
The short answer is yes, the city can reimburse vehicle damages caused by known potholes.
In Wooster, people can submit a claim for pothole damage that may have occurred within the city corporation limits, said Joel Montgomery, director of administration.
Specific information is needed like the location of the pothole, the incident date, damage description, repair estimates and proof of car insurance, he said.
Once submitted to the law director or the executive administrative assistant, the city claims committee reviews it, he said. The committee consists of the law director, finance director, and director of administration.
"An important piece of information that is reviewed is knowledge of the pothole's existence," Montgomery said. "The city's maintenance department keeps track of all potholes found by our city staff and all those reported to us by citizens. "
The city only considers claims regarding potholes that were known but not repaired in a reasonable amount of time.
"The city usually repairs known potholes within 24 to 48 hours," he said.
To submit a claim in Wooster, visit the city's administrative law department website or contact Lynne DePaulo, executive administrative assistant, atldepaulo@woosteroh.com.
Those in Ashland can visit the city's website.
For damages received on a state route, visit the Ohio Department of Transportation'sRoadway Defect or Damage Incident Reporting Form online.
Reach Bryce by email at bbuyakie@gannett.com
On Twitter: @Bryce_Buyakie
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Pothole season: how crews prioritize and repair bumpy roads
