DelDOT Wages Annual Battle With Potholes

Posts a pothole-specific page with frequently asked questions and answers on website


Dover -- While Spring brings forth flowers, there is a less-welcome result of the warmer weather--potholes.

Crews from the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) have been working steadily since the snow melted to repair and prevent potholes, on roads throughout Delaware. DelDOT has an aggressive program of road management to prevent potholes from forming, while also using time-proven strategies for repairing potholes when they do occur.

"Even though we work hard to maintain our roads all year, we always have a Spring crop of potholes," said DelDOT Acting Secretary Cleon Cauley, Sr. "Along with the potholes come questions from state residents about why they occur, how we remedy them, and whether we prioritize some roads for repairs over others. DelDOT's Maintenance & Operations Division has developed a list of Frequently Asked Questions and answers in response to these inquiries."

Potholes are a problem for road maintenance crews because if left unaddressed they can grow in circumference and depth creating even more extensive and costly road damage. They also cause potential traffic hazards for motorists as vehicles seeking to avoid them can make sudden and sometimes unsafe driving maneuvers. Damage to tires, wheels or suspension components also can result when vehicles drive through especially deep potholes.

In Fiscal Year 2010, it cost $2.2 million in material and labor costs to repair the state's potholes. So far this fiscal year, it has cost $900,000.

Pothole FAQ

"We hope that our Pothole FAQ will inform drivers , making them more aware of why they form and what our crews do to make the roads safer and protect our infrastructure investment," Cauley said.