Streets Division

Potholes!  Why?

Potholes are caused when pavement or the material beneath it—the base or sub base—can't support the weight of the traffic it carries. Two factors are always present in such a failure: water and traffic.

Water typically seeps into the sub base either through cracks in the surface or from standing water along the side of the street. When water doesn't drain properly, it can soften the sub base, kind of like dry ground softens into mud. Base material can shift or ooze to the side, leaving nothing to support the pavement above it. Traffic weight then causes the pavement to weaken, seriously crack, and ultimately cave in.

Cold climates accelerate the process with the freeze-thaw cycles, which explains all the potholes the city has to deal with each winter. The water in the sub base freezes and expands, pushing the pavement up. If expansion forces are severe, a piece of pavement may actually pop out!

As warming occurs , the sub base will contract and soften, leaving a void. The cracked pavement deteriorates quickly under the load of traffic and ultimately caves in. Streets seem to break out in potholes overnight.

Residents can help locate those pesky potholes by reporting them to the Pothole Hotline. Call 303.469.3301, extension 6604 and leave a message with the location of the pothole. Staff will put the location on the list for attention from the Streets Division.

Find out more about how the Streets Division takes care of this pesky problem. Watch an on-demand video that previously aired on Broomfield's Channel 8.