Potholes are created in a number of ways. When water seeps into a crack on the road’s surface and is combined with vibration of traffic it causes the asphalt to fail. The most common problem is the freeze/thaw cycle, which is why they seem more prevalent in the colder months. The ice or snow melts during the day filling the cracks with water. At night the water freezes and expands, popping out the asphalt and creating a hole. They are also created when heavy equipment stresses the roadway causing a movement of the subsurface. After there is a weak spot formed, every vehicle that travels over the fracture worsens the problem, eventually causing the material to fail. City crews are out year round patching these potholes.

To report a pothole, please call Public Works at 651-480-6185 or report it using our Service Request System.