Potholes

While taking Sam to school I normally keep the radio off so that we can talk during our drive. For the last week or so I, like all drivers around Grand Rapids, have noticed the ginormous potholes that could swallow a tire. Today during the drive to school I found myself thinking, "Are the potholes worse this year?" After walking Sam into school I returned to the car and turned on the radio which lives on NPR. A female voice on NPR said, "Yes. The potholes are worse this year." She went on to say how Kent county was already a million and a half dollars over it's winter budget and that money would be made up by taking funds away from summer road maintenance. They also shared how potholes form.

Below is an excerpt from WiseGeek, and is one of the best descriptions of how potholes form.

"Potholes form because asphalt road surfaces eventually crack under the heat of the day and the constant stresses of traffic. These cracks allow snow and rainwater to seep into the underlying dirt and gravel. During cold winter nights, this water freezes and expands. Some of the dirt and gravel is pushed out as a result, leaving a hole when the [frozen] water eventually melts. Drivers continue to drive over these unseen holes, putting even more stress on the thin asphalt layer covering them.

Eventually, the asphalt layer over these divots collapses, creating the traffic hazards we call potholes. Potholes can cause significant damage to a car's suspension system or tires if the driver fails to avoid them. Potholes can also fill with water, obscuring any other hazards they may contain."