GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – As temperatures continue to fluctuate, potholes are appearing all over Green Bay, causing frustration for drivers and challenges for city crews.
“Potholes are an occupational hazard if you will in Wisconsin-type weather where we have a change of season, freeze-thaw cycles like we’re having right now because Mother Nature doesn’t know whether it wants to be winter or summer,” said Chris Pirlot, Operations Division Director for Green Bay Public Works.
City crews work year-round to repair damaged roads, often responding to resident complaints.
“They don’t stop happening, pavement degrades every day, it ages every day,” Pirlot said. “We’ll patch anywhere from 20,000-30,000 potholes a year. We keep track, the field people keep track.”
For drivers, potholes aren’t just an inconvenience—they can also cause serious vehicle damage. Mechanics at Auto Select say they frequently see cars with tire, wheel, and suspension issues.
“When you hit a pothole, it usually damages wheels and tires, we see a lot of tires that have what’s called an impact break which is when the tire bottoms out and the wheel cuts the inside of the tire sidewall,” said Auto Select Manager Jaramey Plager.
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Plager added that some drivers come in complaining their steering wheel is off-centered after hitting a pothole. “Usually that’s an indication of a component in the steering or suspension getting damaged, and that’s what changes those angles or alignment if you will.”
City officials urge residents to report potholes as soon as they see them to help crews respond quickly.
