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Potholes already plaguing First State roads this winter

Karl Malgiero/Delaware Public Media

Fluctuating temperatures this winter are causing an increase in potholes, and that can be a costly problem for the state.

 

 

DelDOT officials say they’ve already filled nearly 7,000 potholes this year.

DelDOT spokesman C.R McCleod says the sometimes dramatic variances in temperature seen this season are to blame for the damaged roads.

“Severe cold snaps followed by warming trends—that really is what causes the roadway surfaces to stress and crack,” said McCleod.

DelDOT's annual budget for pothole repair is $6.3 million, and the agency has already spent about 3 and a half million of that.

McCleod notes DelDOT has not surpassed that budget in recent years, but adds it’s still too early to tell how much damage will be done to roads heading into spring.

“There still is a good stretch of winter left ahead of us, so we will continue to watch that and make sure we are able to complete these repairs as necessary," said McCleod.
 

McCleod says a recent pothole on I-95 caused a day long lane closure for repair.

He urges Delawareans call #77 to contact DelDOT to flag potholes or other needed road repairs.