MONROE - 'Tis the season for pothole repairs.
For the City of Monroe Street Department, filling potholes is nearly a daily job for two people, according to Tom Boll, department supervisor.
"Primary route - those that are more traveled - are done first, on a weekly basis," Boll said.
After that, potholes on secondary routes and in subdivisions are repaired.
"Or if people call in, we'll be there in a couple days," Boll said.
Even potholes on streets scheduled to be repaved are filled.
"No need to let them get any bigger," Boll said.
Patching potholes is truly an endless job, and Boll rotates two-man crews for the job. Often they are snowplow operators who follow their winter routes, he said.
Pothole appearances this year are no more numerous than in typical years past, Boll said. Potholes were not bad last year, he added - but then 2012's early spring and quick descent into a drought was not typical either.
Potholes are caused by the expansion and contraction of ground water under the pavement, weakening it in spots. The weight of cars and trucks passing over these spots contributes to the weakening, until the pavement is broken out and a pothole is created.
Holes can be patched with cold or hot material, but Boll said, as the days warm up, the patching material doesn't need to be heated.
To report potholes, call the street department at 608-329-2490.
For the City of Monroe Street Department, filling potholes is nearly a daily job for two people, according to Tom Boll, department supervisor.
"Primary route - those that are more traveled - are done first, on a weekly basis," Boll said.
After that, potholes on secondary routes and in subdivisions are repaired.
"Or if people call in, we'll be there in a couple days," Boll said.
Even potholes on streets scheduled to be repaved are filled.
"No need to let them get any bigger," Boll said.
Patching potholes is truly an endless job, and Boll rotates two-man crews for the job. Often they are snowplow operators who follow their winter routes, he said.
Pothole appearances this year are no more numerous than in typical years past, Boll said. Potholes were not bad last year, he added - but then 2012's early spring and quick descent into a drought was not typical either.
Potholes are caused by the expansion and contraction of ground water under the pavement, weakening it in spots. The weight of cars and trucks passing over these spots contributes to the weakening, until the pavement is broken out and a pothole is created.
Holes can be patched with cold or hot material, but Boll said, as the days warm up, the patching material doesn't need to be heated.
To report potholes, call the street department at 608-329-2490.