Report Your Favorite Potholes Here

The governor wants your potholes --- now.

 Gov. Bob McConnell  promises, you report ‘em, we’ll patch ‘em.

 “Potholes aren’t just bumps in the road, they are serious roadway hazards,” said Governor McDonnell in a press release.

“We ask the citizens of the Commonwealth to help identify the location of these hazards so they can be quickly repaired.  As pothole reports are received, VDOT crews will be dispatched to make repairs.”  McDonnell continued, “The goal is to improve everyone’s safety and comfort as they travel the highways of Virginia.”

 Call 1-800-FOR-ROAD to report your favorite potholes.

  VDOT and its interstate maintenance contractors are responsible for patching potholes on the 58,000 miles of state-maintained roadways in the Commonwealth.  During the 2010 Pothole Blitz, more than 161,000 potholes were repaired, the governor reported in a press release.

 The governor's staff included this helpful information: How Potholes Form

 Moisture seeps into pavement, freezes, expands and thaws. This cycle weakens the pavement. The weight of traffic loosens the pavement and over time the pavement begins to crumble causing tire terror.

 Patching operations are prioritized by pothole severity and location, with some severe potholes on high-traffic roads filled within 24 hours, and most potholes on higher traffic roads repaired within four days.

 Repairs are made with both cold and hot mix asphalt depending on the temperatures and the availability of materials. Hot mix is the preferred material as it is more permanent, but it is not effective until air temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees.

 To report a pothole, citizens should visit www.VirginiaDOT.org or call VDOT's Customer Service Center at 1-800–FOR-ROAD (1-800-367-7623). TTY users, call 711.