What causes pot holes, and why can't they be prevented?

Answer 1

Water seeps under the pavement, eroding the ground under the pavement. Can you control mother nature? That would be why they all can't be prevented.

Answer 2

Fisherworm and others are right. Water is the culprit. When a road is built sands and clays along with gravels are pressed under a roller to increase the density of the road base. water is "squeegeed" from the road base and the particles lie tightly together creating a smooth hard surface. If there is a weak spot or a heavy truck runs over the road and "finds" an area that is not dense enough a pot hole will form. Erosion can cause pot holes. When a culvert goes under a road there are sometimes joints, but the insertion of the pipe creates a preferential pathway that sediment and water always follow. this can create a weak spot even in the middle of the road. Freeze thaw cycles is another type of erosion. Where I live freeze thaw erosion has little effect on the roadways

Also, as hard as asphalt is it is not like concrete. It behaves plastically under heat and pressure.

Answer 3

Picture this. New blactop, gets a heat crack in it during the summer. Winter comes and moisture gets in that crack.....We all know how uncomfortable that is......then that moisture freezes and the roadway heavs in that spot because the freezing ground expands the water trapped, thus a large area of cracks appears then cars pass over them pulling at the broken pieces causing a pot hole.....Prevent the cracks.....When concrete is used it is better but the blacktop roads heat faster in the winter buring off ice and snow moisture....

Answer 4

cold and hot weather plus large trucks and the type and quality of asphalt that was used to pave the road. wet weather and freezing temps will ruin roads.water freezing then cracking in the spaces by poor workmanship. also in the summer tractor and trailers with heavy loads stretches the asphalt making it crack and opening up small areas that water seeps into then winter comes and the water is still under the pavement freezing this over and over. its a nonstop cycle year after year. after awhile the asphalt looses hold on the bed of gravel and it pops up then traffic makes it loose and a pothole is formed.a coldmix of material is used in the winter but it doesnt last long then in the spring until fall a hot mix is used. actually a road that is primarily used for residential traffic isnt as thick as interstates highways. however if there is alot of large trucks traveling on the road there will always be potholes.

Answer 5

There are many things that cause potholes. The chemicals to melt the snow, the plow trucks, oil and other liquids from vehicles leaking onto the road, rain, poorly constructed roads. Cars with busted exhaust pipes, lowriders. There are lots of things that cause pot holes. And tons of ways to prevent them.

Answer 6

If the councils had incredibly paid any interest to the climate comments that have been forecasting snow and chilly climate as much as each week previously it known, and taken care of out the roads then, there could be no the place close to as many potholes. additionally, if that they had repaired those final year, and the years previously that, good, lower back there could be much less this year. little doubt this year they are going to easily re-fill the holes incredibly of resurfacing the line, and the completed concern will look lower back next time there's slightly of frost. then lower back, pondering the quantity of funds my council (Kent) has lost in the completed Iceland mess, they in all hazard desire the money. Why I must be determining to purchase their adverse investments, despite the fact that, i do no longer understand. UKIP do no longer stand in my constituency (or a minimum of, they did no longer on the final council elections), so I doubt which will artwork for many human beings.

Answer 7

most of the time this is caused by soft spots in the surface under neath of the pavement,and moisture causes this to happen,when rain water seeps in and stays there,it eventually make it cave in,and then you have the beginning of a nice pot hole,its almost impossible to prevent them from doing this,on any road the surface will allow some moisture to get through,all they can do is patch them,and wait for it to do it again,good luck,i hope this help,s.

Answer 8

If all the cracks were regularly sealed with tar, the problem would be reduced a great deal. Most cities are trying to avoid spending the money, but end up spending even more when it comes time to do repairs....

Answer 9

A number of things, primarily in Northern states, expansion and contraction to freezing and thawing, road salt , plows gouging up the pavement and quite a number of other things

Answer 10

water gets into the cracks of the pavement and then expands when it freezes forcing the pavement apart causing the crack. Then continuous use wears at the cracks causing the pothole.