Crews in southern Indiana and Louisville are taking advantage of a short break in winter weather to repair potholes caused by recent cold snaps.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A temporary pause in winter storms has allowed road crews across Kentucky and southern Indiana to step up pothole repairs as fluctuating temperatures continue to wear down roadways.
Ongoing freeze-thaw cycles have cracked and broken pavement, forming dangerous potholes that can damage tires and rims. Local auto repair shops say they are seeing the impact up close.
Justin Myers, owner of Myers Collision Repair in Clarksville, Indiana, said his shop has stayed especially busy in recent weeks, with many drivers seeking repairs after hitting potholes concealed by melting snow.
“We’ll see some damage primarily to the inside of a wheel from hitting a pothole,” Myers said. “I feel like I’m seeing more road damage this year than I did last year.”
In Louisville, Metro Public Works crews are patching potholes as weather conditions permit. On Zorn Avenue, workers filled newly formed holes Tuesday while snowbanks melted along the roadside.
“The biggest thing is once the weather is right for us to jump out of snow operations, we jump back into potholes and fill the potholes that came out,” said Thomas Gordon, district manager for Louisville Metro Public Works.
About 75 employees are assigned to pothole repairs, prioritizing major roads before moving into neighborhoods. Crews address potholes year-round — particularly after heavy rain — but repeated snowfalls and shifting temperatures this winter have increased their workload.
Public Works officials said they aim to fix potholes within roughly 72 hours of receiving a report. So far this year, crews have repaired more than 2,500 potholes across Louisville.
Myers advised drivers to keep their tires properly inflated to minimize potential damage if they cannot avoid a pothole.
Residents can report potholes through Louisville Metro’s 311 system or by submitting a request online.
Leave a Comment