Pothole Prevention is preventing potholes before they happen! By sealing cracks early on and using preservation treatments, potholes can be prevented.
Watch a short 2 minute video on pothole prevention.
Pothole Prevention
Pavement preservation is pothole prevention! Most potholes can be prevented by using preservation treatments early on before severe distresses are formed. Sealing cracks in a pavement is the most important step in preventing potholes.
How they are formed
Potholes begin after rain or snow seeps into the soil through a crack in the pavement and flows below the road surface.
The moisture freezes when temperatures drop, causing the ground to expand and push the pavement up.
As temperatures rise, the ground returns to normal level but the pavement often remains raised. This creates a void between the pavement and the ground below it.
When vehicles driver over this cavity, the pavement surface cracks and falls into the hollow space, leading to the formation of a pothole.
Preventive Treatments
Crack Treatments
Consist of placing specialized materials into prepared cracks to prevent water and incompressible intrusion into the cracks and underlying pavement layers.
- Reduce potholes
- Slow pavement deterioration
- Slow crack spalling
Fog Seals
A light application of a diluted slow-setting asphalt emulsion to the surface of an aged pavement surface.
- Help prevent water intrusion
- Slow pavement deterioration
- Improves aggregate retention
Chip Seals
A thin surface treatment that combines one or more layer(s) of asphalt with one or more layer(s) of fine aggregate.
- Help prevent water intrusion
- Fill and seal pavement distresses
- Minimizes reflective cracking
Microsurfacing
A thin surface treatment that combines a layer of asphalt emulsion and finely crushed stone.
- Help prevent water intrusion
- Corrects minor rutting
- Fast set and cure times
Articles
Pavement Preservation Journal – Control Potholes by Sealing Cracks, Joints in Advance
Asphalt Magazine – Preventing and repairing potholes and pavement cracks
Talking Transportation – Filling the pothole story
