There’s an old joke that says Pennsylvania has five seasons –– summer, fall, winter, spring and pothole, and that especially holds true in McKean County.
“The area of Bradford has been hit especially hard this year with a number of freeze/thaw cycles, which lead to formation of potholes,” said Marla Fannin, spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
Among roads hard hit by winter include High Street and South Avenue. AAA East Central officials said that potholes form when moisture collects in small holes and cracks in the road surface. The moisture expands and contracts when temperatures go up and down. This breaks up the pavement and, combined with the weight of passing cars, eventually results in a pothole.
“PennDOT is doing its best to repair larger potholes with the material that is available to us at this time—which is cold patch material,” she said. “Once asphalt plants open this spring, we can return to problem spots and repair more permanently with hot mix material.”
At Darrell’s Service Center in Bradford, owner Darrell Wilt said the shop has seen drivers bring in vehicles needing front-end repairs and alignments. Potholes can cause major damage to a vehicle, he said.
Across town, Jeff Oxley, owner of Oxley’s Service, said his business has seen individuals bring in vehicles with broken springs, shock absorbers and bent rims.
“But I see this every year. I can’t say it’s different than last year, but it’s not good,” he said.
AAA East Central has reported an increase in pothole-related roadside assistance calls compared to past years.
“Not only do potholes pose a safety risk to motorists, they can really leave a hole in your wallet,” says Tom Ashley, executive vice president of AAA East Central. “Even if the damage isn’t as obvious as a flat tire, potholes can lead to bent wheels or even more expensive suspension damage.”
In addition, AAA East Central experienced a 12-percent increase in flat tire calls in January 2018 as compared to 2017.
AAA has provided some advice for motorists. Individuals should make sure tires are properly inflated and have a healthy tread. They should also make sure certain struts, shock absorbers and other suspension parts are in good condition.
“Make a point of scanning the road ahead for potholes. An alert driver is more likely to have time to avoid a pothole, so limit distractions,” AAA East Central officials said.
Drivers should also slow down, and if a pothole cannot be avoided, people should reduce speed safely without abrupt braking, according to AAA East Central.
People should also be aware of puddles, which AAA East Central officials say often disguise deep potholes.
“A hard pothole impact can dislodge wheel weights, damage the tire or wheel and even break suspension components,” AAA East Central officials said. “Any unusual noises after a pothole hit should be inspected immediately.”
PennDOT is already scoping out road projects for later this year. The agency is tentatively planning summer paving for Owens Way, Dorothy Lane/Corydon Street, Main Street/High Street, South Avenue, Interstate Parkway and Sullivan Road.
“Seaward Avenue (Route 4013) is mostly concrete and should see patching this summer,” Fannin said. “We also have pothole concerns on 3 or 4 roads in other parts of McKean County.”
Individuals can report report potholes at www.penndot.gov or 1-800-FIX-ROAD (1-800-349-7623. AAA says that individuals should locate an AAA-approved auto repair network facility, which can be found at AAA.com/AutoRepair.
