Wondering what that bang was on the road? Chances is are, it was a pothole. Severe winter weather has been blamed for the increase of potholes around town. And it’s not just Lakewood, it’s all over. As water gets into cracks in the road and expands into ice, it causes the surface of the road to break up and potholes to form, hence the increase of potholes.
“We are seeing more potholes than in previous years”, DPW Superintendent Toni Arrechi tells TLS.
The township, Arrechi says, is aware of the many potholes and are trying to keep up with them.
“We have a cold patch crew out each day filling as many as possible”.
Arrechi explained that only temporary repairs can be done during the winter, as the asphalt plants do not produce hot material once the temperatures drop. Besides, the patches do not properly function in extreme weather.
But Arrechi also blames budgeting for the bad roads.
“Our budget for road repaving has been cut drastically in the previous years, so no repaving has taken place on township roads”, says Arrechi. “Without repaving, the bad roads get worst and patching doesn’t work”, he says.
Last week, TLS reported about a County road pothole which was responsible for over a dozen busted tires in a few hour span, before the County came out to repair it.
Should you drive over – or into – a pothole, call the Public Works Road Department.
The DPW does not have control over State or County roads and potholes on those roads should be reported to the appropriate parties. TLS.
The problem with Lakewood roads is that there is no continuous preventative maintenance such as resealing the roads or filling in the cracks in the road after the winter. Preventative Maintenance allows the roads to last longer and holds off on resurfacing for many years. Its probably a budget issue as well. Preventative Maintenance save money in the long run. The fact is we have had 2 years of heavy snow which means more salt on the roads and more wear and tear.
Preventative Maintenance? Why would I spend money on something that is NOT broken? Prove to me that spending money on something that is not broken will save me money. Show me the savings of spending (example only) $100 per year to maintain something that when broken after 10 years will still cost $1000 to fix anyway? When after all the Preventative Maintenance is done I still have to buy a new one anyway.
HEY #2, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT YOU ACTUALLY WALKED THE ROADS IN ANY TOWN AND LOOKED AT THE ROADWAYS?
that being said; almost all roadways older then 5years have small cracks that are normal. during winter, its those small cracks that fill up with water & then freeze(the ice expands and makes the crack larger) and create bigger cracks. then as each car passes over that larger crack, each tire then chips off a small pebble off that crack’s ledge, after a couple thousand cars, you got yourself a pothole.
PREVENTATIVE TAR-FILLS PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING THAT SMALL CRACK, and preventing everything else there after.
potholes are are nothing compared to the other problems this town has