Potholes from last month’s major winter storm are still causing problems on Tennessee roads

While the snow and ice from January’s record-breaking winter storm has melted, Tennessee is still digging out of the damage it caused.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation said in an update Tuesday that it has patched 50% more potholes last month than it did during the previous two Januaries. TDOT also added that it has used nearly 5.5 million pounds of materials to fix damaged roadways state-wide from January 22 to February 11, in the aftermath of the storm.

More: Potholes — some as big as ‘craters’ — are Tennessee’s next winter weather hazard

Tennessee drivers have been contending with major potholes on roadways across the state since the snow and ice from the mid-January storms melted.

Last month’s storm was perfect for creating new potholes. Temperatures were frigid, but only a few days after the snow fell, temperatures became mild again. During snowfall, water can penetrate cracks in asphalt and then refreeze, but if that ice thaws quickly, it can leave behind a gap between the asphalt and the roadbed, according to TDOT. Cars push the asphalt down into the gap and create new potholes.

Repairing potholes is also difficult this time of year because asphalt factories slow down in the winter, forcing TDOT to use more “cold mix” instead of “hot mix,” which is a better patch.

“More permanent repairs will be made in spring and early summer when asphalt plants are regularly producing hot mix. Full-scale paving may be necessary in some locations,” TDOT wrote.

TDOT also stressed that drivers may experience delays during pothole repairs. The department works to make repairs during off-peak travel — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays — but sometimes that isn’t possible.

You can report a pothole via this online form or call the TDOT hotline at 833-TDOTFIX. You can also file a claim to TDOT if your car has been damaged by a pothole.