The Missouri Department of Transportation is launching its pothole patching efforts early this year due to the recent extreme weather.

Assistant District Maintenance and Traffic Engineer with MoDOT Jennifer Sardigal said potholes are caused by water, snow or ice that gets into the pavement.

“The asphalt is porous, so the asphalt becomes soft with the increased amount of ice and snow and water. So when the colder temperatures arrive, then the water freezes… and when water freezes it expands, which breaks the pavement,” Sardigal said. “Once the pavement is broken, all the traffic hitting the pothole area will cause it to break up even more so that leaves gaps in the pavement.”

Crews use a temporary cold asphalt mix to cover the potholes until warmer temperatures will allow them to use hot asphalt mix for a permanent fix.

“The cold mix is not going to adhere to the existing pavement like the hot mix will and hot mix is generally put down with oil, which causes a bond between the previous pavement and the new asphalt that is put in place.”

Sardigal said motorists are encouraged to report to MoDOT the location of a pothole on state-maintained routes. Anything that is an Interstate, U.S. Route or Missouri Route, including U.S. 169 or MO 6 in the St. Joseph area, is a state-maintained route.

To report a pothole, click here, call 1-888-ASK MODOT or go to the MoDOT Northwest District’s Facebook or Twitter page.