Motorists making their way around Ocean County have probably seen them – Ocean County’s Pothole Patchers.

The blue and yellow trucks with a two-person crew have been fanning out across Ocean County daily to fill and repair potholes that have been popping up on Ocean County’s roads since the first snow on Dec. 8.

“Potholes are driven by storms,” said Freeholder James F. Lacey, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Road Department. “The earlier we get that first snow or freezing rain, the sooner pothole season begins.”

Lacey and Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari have teamed up to let motorists know that pothole complaints specific to Ocean County maintained roads can be sent to the email address [email protected] or motorists can call 732-929-2133 to report potholes on the roads maintained by Ocean County.

“It is important that motorists using our roadways make us aware of potentially unsafe road conditions and potholes certainly can be one of them,” Vicari said. “With so many people relying on email for communication, we want to provide both an email address and a telephone number to the public.”

Vicari noted that the Ocean County Road Department has been prompt in its response to filling in potholes, in particular with the pothole patchers.

The “pothole patcher” is a specially equipped truck that can hold hot asphalt and has a heating system or burner that keeps the material hot. It also holds a jack hammer and a bin to hold asphalt waste. A two-person crew operates the truck which is all self contained. Ocean County operates three of these trucks and they are on the roads daily filling potholes.

In addition, Lacey noted that 16 road crews supplement the work of the pothole patchers and also fill potholes throughout the County.

“We maintain the largest County road network in the state with more than 1,600 county lane miles,” Lacey said. “Similar to our snow plowing operations, the major county routes known as the 500 series roads, which includes Hooper Avenue in Toms River Township are repaired first.”

Lacey said that in 2013, the Ocean County Road Department paved a number of major county roads including Chambers Bridge Road, Brick Township, Ocean Terrace, Seaside Heights, Bridge Avenue, Bay Head, Colliers Mills Road, Jackson Township, Church Road, Toms River Township and others.

“New paving reduces the pothole problem substantially,” Lacey said. “Potholes are driven by storms, once water seeps into cracks in the roadway it can create potholes.”

Vicari said that in working with Freeholder Lacey, county motorists will have the opportunity to report potholes to the County for a quick response.

“Motorists are often our eyes and ears,” Vicari said. “With such a large road network it is impossible to be everywhere at all times. This information will help us.” [TLS]