What causes most potholes?
(top) Potholes mostly occur when snow and ice melt as part of Michigan’s seasonal freeze-thaw cycles. The resulting water then seeps beneath the pavement, through cracks caused by the wear and tear of traffic. As the temperatures cool to freezing at night, the water becomes ice and expands below the pavement, forcing the pavement to rise. As the shallow divot occurs under the surface, the pavement breaks, forming a pothole. A pothole is typically fixed by cleaning out the loose debris and filling it with hot and cold asphalt patch. Potholes may be prevented by seal coating or crack sealing a road, which can prevent moisture from penetrating the pavement. For more information on potholes, please see this page.
