West Hartford Pot Hole Users Guide

As a public service, portions of a Pot Hole FAQ have been reprinted (with additions) for those traversing the streets of West Hartford:

What makes a pothole?
Potholes are created when moisture seeps into the pavement, freezes, expands and then thaws. This weakens the pavement. Traffic loosens it even more, and it eventually the pavement crumbles and pops out.

Some people will be blaming new de-icing materials that were used this past winter on our roadways. Who knows, it might even be all those heavy West Hartford SUV's and the increased traffic flow that was not meant for our roadways.

The Courant reports:

Most town roads were built when traffic volume was about 20,000 vehicles daily. Now, some roads have volumes of 60,000 vehicles a day, including many heavy trucks.

Then again, it could be an evil plot from the Town to use as an excuse for higher taxation, after all we cannot be made to choose between good schools and intact road surfaces. There's speculation that repair shops in town also have a hand in it since they want to do all those front end alignments.


Why do so many potholes occur in the spring?
Spring temperatures warm the cold pavement, melting and evaporating any ice. This creates air pockets that can eventually cause the pavement to break up. A winter of heavy snow or rain and several freeze-thaw cycles can mean a big pothole season ahead.

It's also budget season, and a good reason to try to claim more tax dollars for repair work, then again, stimulus money should be available for these "shovel ready" projects.


Who can I call to report a pothole?
If the pothole is on a city street, call the local department of public works or city hall.

Public Works - 17 Brixton Street, West Hartford, CT 06110
Office Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Telephone: (860) 561-8100 FAX: (860) 561-8141

Don't call the Mayor - he has enough other things to think about.


Once I report a pothole, how long does it take to get it fixed?

"Crews will repair the center cracks later this spring after the worst of the potholes are filled.

[Mr.] Hallenbeck estimates public works has gotten hundreds of pothole complaints this spring from residents. In addition to responding to those sites, the town road crew routinely stops and fills potholes they spot as they travel in town."

From the Town Public Works webpage:

Town streets are repaired as needed to maintain safe conditions for vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Approximately 45% of the streets in town include curbing comprised of granite, concrete, or bituminous concrete materials. Where curbing exists along town streets, repairs are made as needed to maintain safe conditions.

The Public Works Department does have crews out filling potholes, weather permitting.

When weather is not permitting who knows what the crews are doing.


How are potholes repaired?
The pothole is carved out with a jackhammer or masonry saw to create a neat rectangle. When the excess asphalt is removed, an adhesive is applied and asphalt is added in layers. It is leveled off and compacted with a pavement roller.

Well, that's how they are supposed to be fixed.

Are there different kinds of repairs?
During cold weather, temporary repairs are made with cold patch asphalt, because the weather is too chilly to use hot asphalt. Hot asphalt is used for permanent repairs during warmer weather.

Of course most people don't care; they just want the nuisance things fixed.

Do some roads have more potholes than others?
Roads with high traffic volumes have more potholes due to amount of use. Bridges and ramps, which receive heavy doses of snow removal chemicals in the winter, are more prone to potholes.

Chances are the road you travel most has the most pot holes.

Can anything be done to prevent potholes?
Roads today are built to reduce their moisture capacity, and researchers are working to develop a better, more durable pavement. Researchers also have improved the cold-patch asphalt so those patches last longer.

Another good remedy is don't drive.


This has been a public service announcement.