Missouri - Spring is here and as the warm weather passes us by and as we adapt to the new season with ease, the streets and roads of our state don’t transition as easily as we do. The changes in the weather have created cracks and potholes that cover our roads and the Missouri Department of Transportation is focusing on filling those potholes and fixing our up streets for the next month.
MoDot has issued a statewide “Missouri Pothole Patrol”, which is MoDot’s way of keeping tabs on the roads we drive on every day to keep them smooth and safe.
“The goal of this effort is to patch potholes as quickly as possible and get us through the transition to warmer weather,” stated Elizabeth Wright, a MoDot maintenance engineer. “MoDot has dedicated staff and resources to prepare minor road damage quickly, but we need the public’s help to spot those potholes and let us know where they are.”
The Missouri Pothole Patrol starts on March 18th and goes all the way through April 14th. Here are some easy ways to report potholes you find when you are out and about:
1. Call MoDot’s Customer Service Center (open 24/7), at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636)
2. Report by Email: comments@modot.mo.gov
3. Report Online: modot.org – “Report a Road Concern” (available by computer or smart phone)
These potholes that are reported within the next couple of weeks will be fixed by MoDot’s Rapid Response Team, so the fixing will be temporary until later on into the warmer weather where they will be fixed permanently. MoDot is relying on drivers and motorists to report these potholes immediately.
With the cold weather at night, the water that is on the ground may fill the small cracks in the roads and freeze over. When the warmer weather hits during the day, the pressure expands and with multiple trucks, cars, and semis bumping over the bulge, pavement is slowly knocked away. Potholes could cause uneasy driving or even flat tires, which is why it is important to report them as soon as possible.
