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 The Road Home
Potholes
What causes potholes? |
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Potholes occur when snow and ice melt as part of Indiana's seasonal freeze-thaw cycles. The resulting water then seeps beneath the pavement through cracks caused by the wear and tear of traffic. As the temperatures cool to freezing at night, the water becomes ice and expands below the pavement, forcing the pavement to rise. As the weight of traffic continues to pound on this raised section – and the temperatures once again rise above freezing – a shallow divot occurs under the surface and the pavement breaks, forming a pothole. A pothole is typically fixed by cleaning out the loose debris and filling it with hot and cold asphalt patch. |
 To view an illustration of how a pothole is created click Birth of a Pothole.
Reporting Potholes
Please report any pothole you might encounter on city streets by either calling the Mayor's Action Center at (317) 327-4MAC (327-4622) or by visiting their website at www.indygov.org/eGov/Mayor/mac.htm. If you notice a pothole on the highway or interstate, please contact the Indiana Department of Transportation at (317) 232-5533.
When calling, please indicate the address of the pothole, the direction of travel (N,S, E or W) and the specific lane (outside, middle, inside) of the pothole, so our crews can quickly find and repair the pothole.
Improving our city streets is a true team effort. It takes a dedicated staff and an involved citizenry to enhance the quality of life we enjoy in Indianapolis.
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