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The Birth of a Pothole
Below is an explanation of how a pothole forms provided by the Michigan Department of Transportation.
The Birth of a Pothole - Step 1 |
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The Birth of a Pothole - Step 2 |
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| 1. Potholes begin after snow or rain seeps into the soil below the road surface. | 2. The moisture freezes when temperatures drop, causing the ground to expand and push the pavement up. | |
The Birth of a Pothole - Step 3 |
The Birth of a Pothole - Step 4 |
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| 3. As the temperatures rise, the ground returns to normal level but the pavement often remains raised. This creates a gap between the pavement and the ground below it. | 4. When vehicles drive over this cavity, the pavement surface cracks and falls into the hollow space leading to the birth of another pothole. |
Michigan
Department of Transportation© 2001
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