The latest winter storm may have ended, but the work is just beginning for Burlington County road crews who must now battle another seasonal hazard: potholes.
This year’s pothole season is challenging due to the large amounts of precipitation and the rapidly fluctuating temperatures experienced this winter, according to information provided by Burlington County. The continuous freezing and thawing of moisture beneath asphalt roadways causes a large number of potholes.
“Anyone who has lived in the northeast region knows that winter storms and the deep freezes that often follow them can take a devastating toll on asphalt roads,” Commissioner Deputy Director Tom Pullion, the board’s liaison to the Department of Public Works and the Division of Roads and Bridges, said in a prepared statement. “While there is little we can do to stop potholes from forming, I’m pleased to report our road crews are already working to repair these hazards on county highways. We’re asking motorists to help out by reporting any problem spots they encounter where potholes have formed.”
Residents can report the location of potholes on county roads to the Division’s Pothole Hotline at 609-265-5021 or by emailing [email protected]. Reports can also be made with an online form at https://burlingtoncountynj.formstack.com/forms/report_a_pothole .
A list of county roads in all 40 Burlington County municipalities is available at https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/917/County-Roads
“We check our pothole hotline daily so we can make repairs as quickly as possible,” Pullion said in the statement.
Burlington County maintains more than 500 miles of roads, equaling over 1,000 lane miles. Last year, the county repaired more than 16,250 potholes and used close to 450 tons of patch material, according to the statement.
In addition to the county’s aggressive repair program, the county continues to partner with local municipalities to offer free pothole filling material to those towns that assist with filling craters on county roads. Under the Countywide Pothole Mitigation Program, any town that fills a pothole on a county road within their borders will receive replacement material, according to the statement.
“Keeping our roadways safe and in good shape is a priority, so it’s vital that potholes are repaired quickly. It can be difficult for our county crews to respond to all potholes when they form, which is why we reimburse local towns that assist,” Pullion said in the statement. “It’s a great shared service that benefits all our residents and anyone who travels in our county.”