MODOT Launches Pothole Patrol For Trouble Spots on State Highways
By: William Seay
Updated: March 20, 2013
(NODAWAY COUNTY, Mo.) One crewman fills a pothole with liquid asphalt.
He's followed by another shoveling solid material into the hole.
Two more crewmen brush the hole down, and a steamroller finishes the job.
This is the work of the Missouri Department of Transportation's Pothole Patrol.
"There's a lot of commercial traffic on these highways, especially 71 going from Maryville to points north. It gets a lot of traffic and that can wear and tear on the roads," said MODOT Northwest spokesperson Marcia Johnson.
Johnson says crews from all twenty counties in the Northwest region are out in full force for the pothole patching effort.
It's that time of year.
"Moisture gets down in the cracks and stuff and in the asphalt and pavement. When that happens this time of year with the freezing and thawing, it causes failures in that pavement," said Maintenance Superintendent Charlie Roach from the Nodaway County crew in Maryville.
It's colder this week, so Roach says some of the patches might not be permanent.
"A lot of them are a temporary patch until we get some warmer weather and nicer days to make it a more permanent fix," he said.
And since it's now spring, the crews are expecting warmer days ahead.
Until then, they'll continue their slow march up the highway.
If you see a spot on the highway you think needs fixing, MODOT encourages you to call them at 888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636).
He's followed by another shoveling solid material into the hole.
Two more crewmen brush the hole down, and a steamroller finishes the job.
This is the work of the Missouri Department of Transportation's Pothole Patrol.
"There's a lot of commercial traffic on these highways, especially 71 going from Maryville to points north. It gets a lot of traffic and that can wear and tear on the roads," said MODOT Northwest spokesperson Marcia Johnson.
Johnson says crews from all twenty counties in the Northwest region are out in full force for the pothole patching effort.
It's that time of year.
"Moisture gets down in the cracks and stuff and in the asphalt and pavement. When that happens this time of year with the freezing and thawing, it causes failures in that pavement," said Maintenance Superintendent Charlie Roach from the Nodaway County crew in Maryville.
It's colder this week, so Roach says some of the patches might not be permanent.
"A lot of them are a temporary patch until we get some warmer weather and nicer days to make it a more permanent fix," he said.
And since it's now spring, the crews are expecting warmer days ahead.
Until then, they'll continue their slow march up the highway.
If you see a spot on the highway you think needs fixing, MODOT encourages you to call them at 888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636).
