Community Corner
Potholes Jolt Drivers Across Baltimore County
Citizens can report potholes to Baltimore County and the Maryland State Highway Adminstration.
As roads are cleared from the snow, one thing is evident: potholes are making a dent countywide.
Baltimore County has approximately 58,000 potholes a year, but in bad weather, the number has gotten up to 85,000 in recent decades, the county reports.
Potholes form when water seeps below the surface of pavement, then when it freezes, the water expands and pushes up the asphalt, according to the State Highway Administration. When the precipitation thaws, the asphalt collapses into a hole, which becomes larger as traffic breaks the edges, the highway administration said.
Want to report a highway pothole? The State Highway Administration has established an online reporting system, and crews will respond within one business day, usually filling potholes during off-peak hours, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Want to report a Baltimore County road pothole? Citizens can report potholes in Baltimore County, where public works crews will make repairs within 48 hours.
Ragina Cooper-Ravella, spokeswoman for the AAA Mid-Atlantic, told WBAL TV that potholes were the result of the "freezing-thawing cycle" after the recent winter storms. "Unfortunately, because of those conditions, we're seeing potholes pretty much everywhere."
Baltimore County says it uses a "cold mix" to fill potholes.
Tips for Driving Around Potholes
Watch out for water. Thomas Kelly of Kelly's Body Shop in Cockeysville cautioned drivers that if they are seeing water on the road, it may be a pothole filled with water that should be avoided, WJZ reported.Roll, don't brake. It's better not to brake but instead to roll through areas that have potholes, Cooper-Ravella said on WBAL TV.
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