What is it they say about Kentucky weather? “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change.” But did you know that our ever changing weather can wreak havoc on our roads?

As winter temperatures fluctuate, our local roads face a silent but powerful force of nature. While we often think of potholes as a sign of an aging road, their formation is actually a complex scientific process driven by the elements.

Pothole formation is a multi-step process that primarily involves water and temperature swings:

• Water Infiltration: The cycle begins when water from rain or melting snow seeps into small cracks in the pavement or accumulates underneath the road base.
• The Freeze-Thaw Cycle: When temperatures drop below 32°F, this trapped water freezes and expands, exerting immense pressure that causes the pavement to swell, bend, and crack.
• Creating the Void: As temperatures rise and the ice melts, it leaves behind an empty gap or “void” under the surface, compromising the road’s structural integrity.
• Traffic Stress: The final blow comes from the weight of passing vehicles. As cars and trucks drive over these weakened spots, the unsupported asphalt collapses into the void, creating the potholes we see today.

Salt can even accelerate this process by lowering the freezing point of water, which creates more frequent “artificial” freeze-thaw cycles that continue to weaken the pavement.

The City of Leitchfield is committed to maintaining safe city streets, but our crews can’t be everywhere at once. We rely on our citizens to help us identify necessary repairs. If you would like to report a pothole, please submit the Contact Us Form with the location of the pothole.