Pothole Patrol

Thanks to the harsh winter some of our highways in Hampton Roads are more like the surface of the moon.  If a bone-jarring roll through a pothole left you wearing your coffee, report it to V-DOT.  Fill out an online form here or call them at 800-FOR-ROAD and they'll put it on the repair list.

As for how potholes form, KRDO-TV in Colorado provides this handy explanation.

"This time of year, when rain or snow seeps through cracks in a roadway, moisture reaches the soil below.  That water freezes as temperatures drop, causing the ground to expand, which pushes the pavement up.  When temperatures rise again during the day, the ground contracts, leaving a gap between the pavement and the soil as the water melts.  Potholes form when vehicles drive over the area where the gap exists – the pavement cracks and drops into the hollow area below."