It's prime time for potholes as Northeast Ohio tangos between winter, spring

Potholes.

They can damage vehicles and cars. They are hard to drive around. They are unsightly. And they are a fact of life in Northeast Ohio, where a continuous freeze-thaw cycle through the winter and early spring compromises hard surfaces.

This year's crop of potholes could be mercifully low thanks to a mild winter with record high temperatures on some days.

Cuyahoga Falls is preparing for an "average to below-average" level of potholes, said Carrie Snyder, the city's communications director.

Todd Shreve, the director of public service in Barberton, said this winter's lower-than-usual precipitation "in turn results in less opportunity for water to enter under the pavement" and destabilize it.

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However, that doesn't mean potholes won't pop up, said Jim Hall, Public Works Bureau manager with Akron. The city has already received about 260 pothole fill requests in the last two months.

"We had that super cold freeze," Hall said of the days around Christmas, when much of Northeast Ohio saw temperatures dip into the negatives.

Water that freezes in cracks on road surfaces expands those gaps, said Valerie Wax Carr, the director of public service in Green. She said her city's pothole reports so far "are about the same as in the past few years."

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Why are potholes a problem?

Anyone who has driven long enough knows that a potholes can turn a smooth drive into a rough ride at the turn of a tire.

“Potholes can certainly pose a safety risk to motorists, but they can also result in unexpected and costly repair bills,” says Mike Hoshaw, vice president of automotive services, AAA East Central. “It can cost anywhere from $250 to as much as $1,000 to fix problems like tire punctures and bent wheels along with more expensive issues like suspension damage.”

A recent survey from AAA found that in 2021, one in 10 drivers sustained vehicle damage significant enough to warrant a repair after hitting a pothole, with an average cost of almost $600 per repair. In all, damage caused by potholes cost American drivers $26.5 billion in 2021 alone.

Shreve said now — the transition period from late winter to spring — is the worst time for potholes.

"The best way to avoid those hazards is defensive driving," Shreve said. "Slowing down and monitoring the road conditions in front of you can help to avoid many prevalent wintertime hazards including potholes."

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Patching up potholes

How potholes are filled depends largely on the time of year and the temperature, Hall said.

"We have two different materials we patch with," Hall said. "In winter, the hot-mix asphalt manufacturing shuts down. We use a cold mix. It's a little bit gooier, a little more pliable. Once warmer weather returns, we go back to hot mix, which is more durable."

Notify authorities about craters in the road

If someone sees a pothole, the best thing they can do is notify the local officials, Hall said. In Akron, residents can call 311 to report it, or visit the city's website and fill out an online form.

"If you see it, report it to us," Hall said. "That is really helpful to us. Otherwise, it's like an Easter egg hunt."

Many municipalities have a procedure in place for motorists who have damaged their vehicle on their roads, such as filing paperwork with the law department. These claims, however, can be difficult to win.

"Normally, the only time they get approved is when a pothole was reported and it wasn't addressed in a timely manner," Silver Lake Service Director Mark Lipan said. "We do our best to never let that happen."

State laws protect municipalities from liability for most damage that occurs on the roadways, Snyder said.

"Per the Ohio Revised Code, the city is not responsible for damage caused by a pothole it was unaware of or did not have the opportunity to repair," Snyder said.

How to report potholes in Summit County

Akron: Call 311 or visit the city's website and fill out an online form. To report vehicle damage, call the Law Department, 330-375-2030.

Barberton: Go to www.cityofbarberton.com to report online by registering for a citizen request tracker account under the “How do I…” tab and click on "submit a concern." To report damage, file an incident report with the Police Department for submission to the Law Department.

Bath: Contact the township's service department with an approximate location of the hazard by calling 330-665-5066), emailing ccollins@bathtownship.org, or through the ‘Report a Concern’ link at www.bathtownship.org.

Cuyahoga Falls: Calling 330-971-8345 or go to cityofcf.com/form/report-a-pothole. Damage claims should be filed through the city's Law Department.

Fairlawn: Visit www.fairlawn.us, go to the tab “How Do I?” and select “Report a Problem.” To report damage, go to the “Departments” tab, choose “Law” from the submenu and select “Claims Form.”

Green: Call 330-896-6607 or visit cityofgreen.org and make a service request. To report damage, contact the city’s Law Department.

Lakemore: Contact Tracy Sayers, village administrator, at 330-733-6125 ext. 3, or tfast@lakemoreohio.org.

Macedonia: Call 330-468-8330.

Mogadore: Call 330-628-1412. To report damage, call the Municipal Building at 330-628-4896.

Northfield Center: Visit https://northfieldcenter.com/service-department/

Northfield Village: Contact the Service Department at 330-468-4363, or the police non-emergency line at 330-467-7139.

Silver Lake: Contact Village Hall at 330-923-5233. To report damage, submit a claim through the clerk-treasurer for consideration by Village Council.

Springfield: Visit https://www.springfieldtownship.us/RequestTracker.aspx

Stow: Visit https://stowohio.org/FormCenter/Report-A-Concern-11/Report-A-Concern-Fix-It-Form-67

Twinsburg Township: Call 330-425-4497.

Summit County: Call the Public Services Department at 330-643-2860 or go to www.summitengineer.net/home/Summit-County-Engineer.html and choose "Report a Pothole."

Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Pothole season returns in Akron area; here's your guide to navigating