Interested in joining the pothole patrol?
After months of winter weather, the approaching spring is welcome news for Missourians.
Warmer weather, however, brings problems of its own. In this forum on Friday, we passed along the Missouri Highway Patrol's warning to keep off dangerous ice.
That advisory was followed by a separate press release from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) asking motorists to report potholes.
Potholes are as much a sign of spring as robins, barbecues and baseball. They form, according to MoDOT, when temperatures warm up during the day but continue to be cold at night. Moisture from winter rain and snow constantly seeps into the cracks and joints of the roadway.
When temperatures drop at night, MoDOT adds, the moisture freezes and expands the pavement, which causes it to crack and bulge. As cars and trucks drive over those cracks, the pressure causes chunks of pavement to pop out, and potholes are formed.
"Our goal is to patch potholes as quickly as possible and get us through the transition to warmer weather," said Elizabeth Wright, MoDOT state maintenance engineer. "MoDOT's crews will repair minor road damage quickly, but we need the public's help to spot those potholes and let us know where they are."
Motorists can report potholes to the state by calling MoDOT's Customer Service Center, available 24/7, at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636). They also can report potholes by e-mail to [email protected] or online from a computer or cell phone by connecting to modot.org. Look for "Report a Road Concern."
In Jefferson City, go to the website, www.jeffcitymo.org/publicworks/street, and access the "Report a Pothole" button on the left.
In Cole County, motorists may report potholes by contacting the public works department at 573-636-3614.
Potholes are annoying, jarring and potentially damaging to your vehicle. Promptly reporting them expedites repairing them.