The constant freezing and thawing most of Alaska has seen this winter is taking its toll on roads in the form of more pot holes forming.
Shannon McCarthy with the Department of Transportation says more reports of damaged asphalt have been received this year.
McCarthy: “If we get any kind of water that penetrates the asphalt, it goes to the sub-base and can create problems and then the asphalt becomes a little bit more flexible because there’s a little bit of a void underneath. So of course, flexible asphalt is not good because it’ll crack and break and chunks will start coming up and that creates a pot hole.”
She says Kenai Peninsula residents can report pot holes they notice to the local maintenance shop by calling 262-2199.
McCarthy gave a couple other tips to avoiding trouble with pot holes.
McCarthy: “If they see a puddle, or standing water on the road, we really encourage people to slow down. Don’t go through those large puddles at highway speed because there’s very likely road damage underneath. We want people to slow down and proceed with caution. And then if they do see the crews out working with the mobile work sites, we just want them to give them a little bit of space to do their work so they can fill those pot holes.”
She says workers accompanying mobile maintenance operations appreciate when drivers slow down and approach their work zones slowly and carefully.
Other phone numbers for local road maintenance:
City of Soldotna Road Maintenance: 262-4672
City of Kenai Road Maintenance: 283-8254
Kenai Peninsula Borough Road Service Area: 262-4427