There are potholes everywhere in the Southern Tier right now. No matter where you drive, you will come across at least one.

I had no idea, until recently, why there are so many. Being the curious person I am, I have done some reading and here is why potholes will never be "extinct."

A few factors create the perfect atmosphere for a pothole to form

1. When a road is paved, it is not thick enough to handle the freeze/thaw cycle.

2. There is poor drainage in the area.

3. Manholes and drainage casing are not sealed properly. The road has defects that allow water to seep through.

4. Traffic.

5. Precipitation.

There will never be a perfect road. it is impossible to build one. So, we are always going to have potholes.When precipitation falls on a road that has any of the defects listed above, and you have traffic, a hole will open up.

We just need to understand that they form, drive around them and report them. If you see a pot hole in New York, call 1-800-POTHOLE.  In Pennsylvania, the number is
1-800-FIX-ROAD.

Remember to keep your eyes peeled, because it you damage your car when hitting a hole, the repairs are up to you.

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