NoVA drivers take heed: The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) says it is getting twice as many calls reporting potholes compared to last year.
This year’s winter weather, which has produced more snow than last year, is the major cause. Through February 13, VDOT says it fielded 1,067 calls about potholes as compared to 838 reports last year, WUSA9 reported.
VDOT spokesperson Alex Ligitt told WUSA9 that crews can’t fully repair the roads until the weather heats up and dries out. “It’s more of a patch. They’re using materials that are temporary, then they go back in the warmer months and do a full job on the potholes,” he said.
With the increase in potholes, Ligitt offered this advice for Northern Virginia drivers: “My main advice is to allow extra space between vehicles. A lot of people don’t do that in Northern Virginia. A fair amount of people ride on my bumper. If you give it a little extra space, you can see the road between vehicles, giving you more time. And please, don’t veer off into other lanes.”
VDOT maintains most primary and secondary roads in the county, including pothole repair. You can look up who maintains every road in the county on the website. However, there are some exceptions:
- If you see potholes on Dulles Toll Road, contact the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority.
- If you see potholes on GW Parkway, contact the National Park Service.
- Many private roads are maintained by businesses, apartment and condo complexes, homeowner and civic associations, or residents. If there’s a pothole on a road that’s privately maintained, contact the HOA or the business that’s responsible.
VDOT’s online reporting tool makes it easier to pinpoint exactly where you see a pothole. You can also report potholes directly from your mobile device and include images (just not while driving!). You also can call VDOT at 1-800-FOR-ROAD (1-800-367-7623) to report potholes or to ask who maintains a road.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
