It would be convenient to say Pennsylvania had a long, cold winter. It was long, that's for sure, but it wasn't always cold. There were some freezing days, and then there were some unseasonably hot days — usually following each other closely.
Unfortunately, these roller-coaster weather conditions wreak havoc on our roads, resulting in an especially bad year for potholes. Read our blog on how potholes form to learn how the fluctuations in temperature affect roads.
To combat this problem, Governor Tom Wolf announced an aggressive campaign to accelerate repaving work on interstates and attack potholes. This initiative — dubbed Resurface PA — will be financed using savings from other projects since Governor Wolf took office.
The governor has directed PennDOT to dedicate as many resources as possible to pothole and pavement repairs. The department has prioritized $22.3 million for immediate pothole repairs through June 30, which translates into nearly 30,000 tons of patching material (or two-and-a-half times the weight of the Eiffel Tower!). An additional $7 million will be invested in seven interstate maintenance projects covering potholes and other repairs on 78 miles of roads this year.
Other new investments include:
- $30 million in transportation infrastructure investment funding for interstate improvements;
- $60 million in PennDOT investments from interstate-project bid savings being reinvested in resurfacing; and
- $62 million in additional funding for interstate preservation projects.
Together, these commitments will make 17 interstate paving and preservation projects covering 255 miles happen at least two years sooner than scheduled.
PennDOT can only fix potholes if we know about them. That is why we encourage motorists to report potholes on state-owned roadways by calling 1-800-FIX-ROAD or visiting customercare.penndot.gov. When reporting a pothole, please be as specific as possible. If you can, note the county, municipality, street name, and/or route number. Descriptions of familiar landmarks that could help PennDOT locate the problem area are also encouraged.
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