Uniontown, PA - Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 12 spends over $1.8 million annually to repair potholes in Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland counties, using an average of 1,900 tons of asphalt each year.
Potholes form during the winter months as temperatures fluctuate between mild and freezing. When precipitation occurs, water seeps into the soil beneath the roadway surface. As temperatures drop, the water freezes and expands, pushing up the pavement.
As the weather warms, precipitation melts and seeps into the gaps between the pavement and the ground below. With repeated vehicle traffic, the weakened pavement cracks and collapses into the hollow spaces, forming potholes. Winters with heavy precipitation—not just snow—and frequent temperature fluctuations typically lead to more potholes, as seen this season.
During the winter, crews repair roads as weather permits using cold patch material—an asphalt mix containing soap, water, and fine stones. The soap and water keep the material flexible, making it easier to work with, while hardening occurs as they evaporate. However, these repairs are only temporary, especially with ongoing temperature fluctuations.
In the spring, when the Commonwealth's asphalt plants reopen, warm mix asphalt—a blend of pure asphalt and fine stone heated to 250-265 degrees—becomes available for more permanent repairs. This process involves cutting the pothole into a square shape, cleaning it, and applying a tack coat of asphalt to act as a bonding agent. The warm mix is then placed into the pothole and compacted using a roller or other equipment to ensure a durable repair.
For more information, explore PennDOT Maintenance Activities, which includes an infographic illustrating how potholes form, along with printable PDFs detailing the department’s manual and mechanized patching methods.
PennDOT encourages motorists to report potholes on state-owned roadways by calling 1-800-FIX-ROAD (1-800-349-7623) or submitting a request online through its Customer Care Center. When reporting, please provide as much detail as possible, including the county, municipality, route number and/or street name, and nearby landmarks to help crews locate and address the issue efficiently.
Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices by calling 5-1-1 or following regional X alerts.
Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District12.
Information about infrastructure in District 12, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D12Results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.
Find PennDOT news on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
MEDIA CONTACT: Laina Aquiline, laquiline@pa.gov or 724-415-3748
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