Potholes occur in the winter months and are usually the result of a freeze-thaw cycle. Water seeps under pavement either through cracks or the side of the road. Water beneath the road surface expands and causes the pavement to rise and crack. Vehicular traffic compounds the problem.
Potholes can cause damage to vehicles, usually in the form of blown tires, bent wheels and problems with alignment and suspension. In general, the greatest damage occurs when cars are traveling over potholes at high speeds. In addition, cars with low-profile tires are at greatest risk of flat tires and wheel damage as a result of hitting a pothole.
Potholes can cause serious injury to pedestrians. Most claims involving potholes occur when an individual trips and falls, causing a fractured ankle or injury to the head and upper extremities.
As a parish, school or institution, you are responsible for maintaining your property in a reasonably safe condition. Failure to do so could expose your location to liability for both bodily injury and property damage.
If your location has knowledgeable staff with the expertise to repair potholes, encourage them to be proactive in looking for and repairing potholes as soon as they are noticed. You may also contract with a paving company to do the job. There are numerous such companies around.
In the winter, repairs are generally made with “cold patch” material. Cold patch material is temporary because it does not adhere as well to the surrounding base material. For this reason, some potholes may need to be patched several times over the winter months, until the warmer weather allows for a permanent repair to be made with traditional “hot” asphalt.
If you are unable to attend to a pothole right away and it is in a common pathway where pedestrians may be injured, cordon off the area with cones, if possible. In addition, be sure your walkways and parking lots are adequately lit at night so that pedestrians and drivers can see the path ahead of them.