It's spring, and that means it's pothole time in northern Michigan! And the rest of the state as well, if you're driving out of town.
This year, the Michigan Department of Transportation is trying to be proactive about potholes, as evidenced by its newly-posted educational video on
YouTube.
It not only shows how potholes form, but also highlights ways for the public to tell MDOT about potholes they encounter.
"The cycle of rising and falling temperatures this time of year causes more and more potholes on Michigan roadways," says State Transportation Director Kirk Steudle. "This video will give the public a better understanding of potholes and how they can alert MDOT crews to problem areas. Patching potholes is not a permanent fix, but it does give everyone a smoother and safer drive."
That doesn't mean to call them about the one at the end of your driveway, though, unless you live on a state trunkline road. Those are the roads MDOT is responsible for fixing potholes on. So that's most roads with an "M" in front of them, like M22, as well as U.S. and interstate highways like U.S. 31 or I-75.
The video can be found on MDOT's YouTube Channel and is titled Reporting Potholes. And to report a pothole, you can go to the MDOT Web site and click on the "Report Potholes" icon on the bottom right corner of the page, where there is an online form to fill out.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Kirk Steudle, Michigan Department of Transportation
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