VDOT works to fill hundreds of Richmond-area potholes after storm
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VDOT, Henrico and Richmond are working on a post -winter storm pothole-filling blitz.
Why it matters: Richmond-area streets are riddled with them right now.
State of play: Potholes can form at any time, but they're especially prevalent after winter storms like the massive one that hit Richmond in late January, VDOT says.
How it works: Water from melted snow or ice enters cracks in the asphalt and freezes in the ground underneath, expanding, raising and weakening the concrete.
- Roads then shift and contract after it gets warmer, creating gaps between the pavement and the ground, making them more vulnerable to impact by vehicles.
Zoom in: VDOT is asking locals to report potholes at my.vdot.virginia.gov.
- The state transportation department is only responsible for potholes on the roads it manages, which is all roads in Chesterfield and Hanover, plus interstates and U.S. highways (like Broad and Patterson) in Henrico.
- Henrico Public Works is in charge of the rest of its roads and a spokesperson for them says they're "putting a big focus on potholes right now." Locals can report Henrico potholes here.
- Richmond Public Works oversees all the city streets and a city spokesperson tells Axios that a "pothole blitz" is coming "within the next two weeks." Report city holes at RVA311.
Fun fact: In the city, nearly 300 pothole complaints have been filed via 311 just this month, per an Axios review.
- Just 32 of those have been marked complete.
- Yes, but: If your car gets damaged from hitting a Richmond pothole, you can file a claim and get reimbursed by the city.
Go deeper: How to file a pothole claim in Richmond