Potholes are popping up across Iowa as temperatures fluctuate
AMES, Iowa – Jan. 27, 2025 – The freezing and thawing we’ve experienced so far this winter along with ample snow and moisture has caused potholes to show up on Iowa’s roadways.
Potholes are mostly caused by moisture getting into or underneath pavement. During freeze and thaw periods, moisture causes the asphalt or concrete roadways to shift, buckle, or break. When vehicles drive over these weakened areas, the patches can come loose, leaving those dreaded potholes.
Iowa Department of Transportation, as well as city and county crews, are patching potholes as quickly as they can using cold-mix asphalt. In many cases it’s not a long-lasting solution, but it does improve your driving experience, especially on larger potholes on busy roads, until the weather warms up enough to place a more permanent patch in the spring.
Permanent patches use hot-mix asphalt or Portland cement concrete which work best when the temperatures are above freezing, so this work is usually completed in the spring and summer. We are also proactive in the spring and summer, patching roads where we see significant cracking or deteriorated pavement, which can eventually lead to potholes.
For potholes on streets or county roadways, please contact the local city administrator/engineer or county engineer so they can make sure the potholes are filled.
You can report the potholes you find on the interstates, Iowa numbered routes, and U.S. highways to one of the following Iowa DOT maintenance offices.
- District 1 maintenance, 515-239-1634
- District 2 maintenance, 641-423-7584
- District 3 maintenance, 712-276-1451
- District 4 maintenance, 712-323-6125
- District 5 maintenance, 641-472-4171
- District 6 maintenance, 319-364-0235
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