WV Division of Highways warns the public to pardon the potholes as temperatures rise and snow melts

West Virginia (WOAY) The West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) is advising West Virginians to brace themselves as the temperatures rise, the ice melts, and potholes rear their ugly heads.

WVDOH officials explain that potholes form when water seeps into cracks in the road.

Once that water freezes and expands, small cracks are created that gradually expand into bigger cracks, which result in potholes.

The more freeze-thaw cycles roads experience, the better the chances of potholes being created.
  
Potholes mainly happen in the winter when WVDOH crews are less able to deal with them, and as asphalt plants close for annual maintenance. 
  
To permanently patch a pothole, road crews must mill out the road around the existing hole, sweep out all the debris, lay a sticky layer of tack, pour in a fresh batch of steamy asphalt, and roll the pavement smooth.

However, WVDOH officials note that it’s impossible to get hot asphalt in the dead of winter. 

An alternative method for a quick fix involves using a sticky mixture of cold asphalt, called a cold patch, but it’s only a temporary solution. 
  
Until the asphalt plants open this Spring, WVDOH officials say, unfortunately, the potholes are here to stay.