Crews have been diligently working towards filling the many potholes in Illinois that started to appear after last week’s polar vortex.
A combination of ice, snow, and salt from the storms did some pretty impressive and destructive work on the state’s roads. The most severe pavement damage occurs when snow and ice melts, the water seeps into the cracks of the roadways, and then freezes – expanding to deepen the cracks.
Frozen, brittle roadways can also easily be damaged by snowplows.
Workers set out today to begin filling the most severe potholes in the most highly trafficked areas.
Chicago’s road workers are pushing to restore the roadways in seven days.
So far 26,000 have been repaired this year. Chicago DOT repaired more than 625,000 potholes in 2013.
One pothole costs an average of $6.81 to fix.
Illinois interstate potholes can be reported to the Illinois State Police Department: 630.241.6800 ext. 5042.
Sources
The News-Gazette
Northwest Herald
The Southern
The Republic
WREX
WSILTV