As springtime takes hold an all too familiar sight appears to Colorado drivers in the mountains. Potholes, some tiny, some the size of a small car accident, will appear on the highway and its nearby roads, making commutes to and from our favorite ski resorts a whole new ball game.
Pothole develop on roadways as as temperatures fluctuate between warm and cold. As the ground water underneath the pavement freezes in colder temperatures it takes up more space, expanding, bending, cracking, and weakening the road surface. When that ice melts, the pavement contracts and leaves gaps or voids underneath the surface. The repeated freeze-thaw cycle that occurs in the spring allows the pavement to continue cracking, and vehicles passing over the weak spots cause it to break and create potholes.
Be aware of the dangers that potholes can create. Hitting a pothole at high speeds can cause damage to the tires, wheels, and suspension or lead to accidents. Such was the case below when a truck driver with a trailer was thrown off-kilter by a large pothole on I-70 near the Loveland Pass area.
#Pothole from Hell. Driver in #Colorado says it caused his #camper #trailer to bounce out of control. Said “I thought I was going to die” Near @LovelandSkiArea on I-70 @KDVR @channel2kwgn pic.twitter.com/brYc91MbJk
— Vicente Arenas (@vicentearenastv) March 9, 2023
Potholes in Colorado cost an average of $60 per square yard to fix, with a crew of at least three people required for operational safety. Depending on the hole depth and width, a repair can take between 10 and 30 minutes but a full-lane closure is required per CDOT protocol. If you see a pothole on a state highway, it should be reported to a CDOT Customer Service Hotline number. Read more on pothole safety in Colorado below.
Colorado Department of Transportation Pothole Safety:
We recommend that if you cannot avoid a pothole, please reduce your speed and check your rear or side-view mirrors before swerving or braking abruptly. Hitting a pothole at higher speeds greatly increases the chance of damaging tires, wheels and suspension components. Also, puddles require extra caution since they can disguise a deep hole.
- Be prepared for moving, single lane closures, along with possible delays, while potholes are being repaired.
- Slow down when approaching these work zones for the safety of everyone involved, especially crew members who are working to repair the pavement.
- Lane closures are generally limited to night-time hours, however pothole repairs may occur during the day to prevent further deterioration and damage to the roadway.
