GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Warmer days may feel like a break from winter, but for drivers in Green Bay, they often signal the arrival of pothole season.
30 lake sturgeon harvested despite continued warm weather, trigger inches closer
City officials say the recent freeze-thaw cycle is largely to blame for the growing number of craters appearing on roadways.
“We had a bunch of rain and snow melt that just happened,” Street Superintendent Josh Brassfield said. “When we have cracks in the road and the water gets in there, we go through the freeze-thaw cycle, and it just pops the pavement.”
Last year, city crews filled more than 17,000 potholes. Officials expect that number to climb even higher this year.
“I think it is an increase this year from years past,” Brassfield said. “We’ve had some lighter winters in the past, so it hasn’t been as bad. Usually, we don’t get this kind of thaw until March.”
Crews are currently concentrating on high-traffic roads that experience constant wear and tear. Streets such as Shawano Avenue and Main Street are among the top priorities.
“Those are the roads we see the most potholes on, and those are the ones we try to focus on first when we get these thaws because that has the most volume of traffic,” Brassfield said. “We try to go through as many residential areas as possible also, but because it’s lower speeds and not as much traffic, they are not as bad as the main ones.”
Officials with the city’s Public Works Department say they are monitoring reports daily and deploying as many crews as possible to address the worst trouble spots first.
Young Fox Valley artist raises more than $1,000 for animal rescue with art sales
“We know that they are out there. We know what the troubled areas are,” Brassfield said. “We’ve got as many resources as we have out there doing this work. So be patient. Put your complaints and concerns in, and we will definitely get back to you.”
You can report pothole concerns directly on the Green Bay city’s webpage.
