Potholes

To report a pothole, click here.

News release: Pleasant weather produces potholes

What Makes a Pothole?

Potholes are created when moisture seeps into the pavement, freezes, expands and then thaws.

This weakens the pavement. Traffic loosens it even more, and it eventually crumbles and pops out. This graphic illustrates how potholes form.

Why Do So Many Potholes Occur in the Spring?

Spring temperatures warm the cold pavement, melting and evaporating any ice. This creates air pockets that can eventually cause the pavement to break up. A winter of heavy snow or rain and several freeze-thaw cycles can mean a big pothole season ahead.

Who Can I Call to Report a Pothole?

If the pothole is on a city street, call the local department of public works or city hall. If the pothole is on an Arlington or Henrico county road, call the public works department in that county. Those are the only two counties in Virginia responsible for maintaining their county roads.

In all other counties, if the pothole is on a county or state road or interstate highway, call the local Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) office, or report the problem here.

How Are Potholes Repaired?

The pothole is carved out with a jackhammer or masonry saw to create a neat rectangle. When the excess asphalt is removed, an adhesive is applied and asphalt is added in layers. It is leveled off and compacted with a pavement roller.

In some counties, VDOT uses "pothole killers," machines that fix potholes quickly without closing the road. Learn more here.

Are There Different Kinds of Repairs?

During cold weather, temporary repairs are made with cold patch asphalt, because the weather is too chilly to use hot asphalt. Hot asphalt is used for permanent repairs during warmer weather.

Do Some Roads Have More Potholes Than Others?

Roads with high traffic volumes have more potholes due to amount of use. Bridges and ramps, which receive heavy doses of snow removal chemicals in the winter, are more prone to potholes.

Can Anything Be Done to Prevent Potholes?

Roads today are built to reduce their moisture capacity, and researchers are working to develop a better, more durable pavement. Researchers also have improved the cold-patch asphalt so those patches last longer.