State road officials warn that crews may not permanently repair some of the new potholes caused by recent winter weather for several weeks.
The West Virginia Division of Highways said in a news release Monday that crews can apply a “cold patch” — a sticky blend of cold asphalt — to address the worst potholes for now, but they must wait until spring to make lasting repairs.
Asphalt plants typically shut down during the winter and restart when temperatures rise. As a result, some of the troublesome potholes formed when water froze and expanded during winter storms will remain for a few more weeks.
To permanently fix a pothole, road crews mill the pavement around the damaged area, clear out debris, apply a sticky tack coat, fill the hole with hot asphalt and compact the surface until it is smooth.
The DOH said that when crews complete this process properly, the repair can last as long as the surrounding roadway.