(WFRV) – The volatile Wisconsin Spring weather makes it much more common for potholes to develop, and WisDOT officials are reminding drivers to be cautious around repair crews.
A Facebook post from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) calls this season of rapidly changing temperatures in Wisconsin ‘pothole weather.’ Officials say it is much more common during freeze-thaw cycles for potholes to develop, as water is more likely to get under the surface of the roadway.
Any driver who spots a pothole can report it to their county’s highway department, and as more crews are to be expected to be out making repairs, drivers need to be on the lookout for those crews.
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Drivers are asked to slow down and move over to keep repair crews safe.
The local county highway departments perform highway maintenance on the state highways per Wis. Statute 84.07(1). This work is part of a nearly 100-year-old partnership agreement between the State of Wisconsin and the 72 county governments to boost efficiency. Counties are provided with resources and guidance from the state for maintenance work such as pothole patching, crack filling, and snow removal.
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
WisDOT’s website provided the following other tips and information pertaining to potholes:
- If you want to report a state highway area in need of attention for things such as potholes, debris in the road, etc., please contact the local county highway department.
- If your car is damaged due to a pothole, hitting a construction barrel, or debris in the road, the state or county is not liable for your damage. Please contact your insurance company in those situations.
- County maintenance operations are protected under Wisconsin’s Move Over Law. If you see workers out on the highway, please slow down and, when possible, give them additional room to work.
More information about damage on state highways can be found here.
