Pothole Patching Continues

Published on May 06, 2022

Public Works team clearing debris away from a pothole that will be patched

As long as there are paved roadways, there will also be potholes. While winter is especially hard on local roads, the summer can be just as rough. The heat from the sun causes pavement to expand, and water can seep through the cracks that form. As streets cool overnight, the pavement contracts and leave gaps in the surface underneath. When vehicles travel over these gaps, the asphalt breaks apart, leaving behind a pothole.

In 2021, crews patched 28,873 potholes. March, April, May, and June 2021 were the busiest months, accounting for more than 50% of all patching work.

In April, crews patched 6,030 potholes bringing this year's running total to 12,646.

When it comes to patching, teams prioritize areas with high concentrations of potholes and high-traffic volumes. Other factors matter as well, but high-traffic volume is the primary driver. Some of the other factors are:

  • Severity - Dependent on size, depth, and location on the road surface
  • Proximity - Work is assigned to crews based on location of other similar work to allow for efficient routing throughout the day
  • Weather and other contributing factors, like closures, may cause different prioritization of repairs

Public Works' Street Maintenance Division uses two Hot Patchers, a Crack Sealer, and the traditional "throw and roll" cold patching methods to address potholes.

Photograph of a hot patcher With onboard attachments like a jackhammer and tack oil application wand, the Hot Patchers allow team members to apply long-lasting and more uniform repairs to road surfaces. While this process is initially slower than the "throw and roll," repairs last much longer – in some cases until the next overlay or rebuild. Over time, the need to patch the same hole time and time again diminishes significantly. Team members do still occasionally use older patching methods to get material in troublesome holes and buy time until the Hot Patchers or surface treatments are available.

The Crack Sealer compliments this work and plays an important part in the overall street preservation process. Pavement expands and contracts as it cools and warms throughout the year. In some cases, this can cause cracks to appear on streets. If these cracks are not addressed quickly, they allow moisture to sneak into the road's surface, form potholes, and ultimately decrease its lifespan.

Photograph of a crew using a mobile crack sealer to fill gaps in street pavement The sealer also helps team members apply repairs quickly and efficiently, which helps stretch limited dollars further and keep roads healthier longer. Unlike other crack sealers, the model used in Kansas City, Kansas, has a self-contained asphalt kettle. The kettle can heat, melt, and apply all kinds of rubberized sealers, joint sealants, and waterproofing compounds without the need for additional equipment or personnel.

Crews remain out patching and sealing, so please remember to slow down and give them plenty of room to operate safely.

Report potholes by calling 3-1-1 or visiting mywyco.wycokck.org.

Learn more about potholes and patching:

How do Potholes Form?

As long as there are paved roadways, there will also be potholes. Despite popular misconceptions, potholes can form at any time throughout the year:

  • Winter weather is especially tough on roads. Moisture from snow and ice seeps into pavement, freezes, and then expands. When the expanded pavement thaws out, it contracts and leaves gaps in the surface underneath.
  • The summer is equally hard on roads. Heat from the sun causes pavement to expand and water can seep through the cracks that form. As streets cool overnight, the pavement contracts and leaves behind gaps in the surface underneath.
  • As vehicles travel over these gaps, the asphalt begins to break apart, leaving behind a pothole

For a visual example of how a pothole forms, check out this graphic:

An infographic showing how potholes form on streets



How Are Potholes Prioritized for Patching?

When it comes to pothole patching, teams prioritize areas with high concentrations of potholes and high traffic volumes. Other factors matter as well, but high traffic volume is the primary driver. Some of the other factors are:

  • Severity - Dependent on size, depth, and location on the road surface.
  • Proximity - Work is assigned to crews based on location of other similar work to allow for efficient routing throughout the day.
  • Weather and other contributing factors, like closures, may cause different prioritization of repairs.

How Are Potholes Fixed?

In Kansas City, Kansas, Public Works’ Street Division uses both of the City’s Hot Patchers and the traditional “Throw and Roll” cold patching methods.

Photograph of a With onboard attachments like a jackhammer and tack oil application wand, the Hot Patchers allow team members to apply long-lasting and more uniform repairs to road surfaces. While this process is initially slower than the "throw and roll," repairs last much longer – in some cases until the next overlay or rebuild. Over time, the need to patch the same hole time and time again diminishes significantly. Team members do still occasionally use older patching methods to get material in troublesome holes and buy time until the Hot Patchers or surface treatments are available.

Photograph of a crew using a mobile crack sealer to fill gaps in street pavement In 2021, Public Works added a brand new Crack Sealing machine to its street maintenance toolkit. Pavement expands and contracts as it cools and warms throughout the year. In some cases, this can cause cracks to appear on the streets. If these cracks are not addressed quickly, they allow moisture to sneak into the road’s surface and ultimately decrease the road’s overall lifespan. The new Crack Sealer allows teams to apply repairs quickly and efficiently, which aids Public Works significantly in their effort to stretch limited dollars further and keep roads healthier, longer. Unique to this model is its onboard and completely self-contained Asphalt Crack Sealing Kettle, which makes it capable of heating, melting, and applying all grades of rubberized asphalt crack sealer, joint sealants, and waterproofing compounds without the need for additional equipment.

Are Potholes Proactively Addressed?

Yes - crews take a proactive approach to patching, so they are always on the lookout for new potholes. Unfortunately, they don’t to spot them all.

Remember to report potholes by calling 3-1-1 or visiting mywyco.wycokck.org.