How do pothole's apear in some roads overnight?

Question

How do pothole's apear in some roads overnight? Some mornings after a bit of rain there are potholes bigger than a football all over the road, surley the rain shouldn't be able to wear down the road that quick?

Answer 1

while you are sleeping the DOT is out working hard to install new potholes

Answer 2

Usually potholes form over a couple of days - or longer. You generally just don't notice them until they get big enough to become a nuisance (or a danger).

They are usually due to collapse of the ground underneath the pavement. Animals burrowing or voids left when the road was built are usually to blame. Sometimes underground water runoff after a rainstorm will wash out a void under the road and allow a big pothole.

It is mostly up to the road builder to provide adequate drainage, and to make sure the ground is completely tamped down and then the road is built correctly with sufficient gravel or other substrate to support the weight, and be able to handle the weather conditions.

Answer 3

One major reason for potholes and their growth is that the water seeps into cracks then changes temperature (freezing) which causes it to expand and push the asphalt around. Then of course it contracts when it turns back to liquid form and causes more movement of the road surface.It's a very big problem in many areas with a huge range in temperatures.

Answer 4

It can be with the sewer system underneath the roads arent kept in good condition and sometimes a sewer can collapse and leave a small pot hole in the road.

Answer 5

damage takes a few days due to water damage.. you just don't notice until the hole is there.

Answer 6

I reckon that it's the anti-car brigade.