Kentucky maintenance crews on 'pothole patrol'
KENTON COUNTY, Ky. (WKRC) - Now that the weather is warming up after our share of winter weather, get ready to see more state maintenance crews out and about patching potholes.
State maintenance crews in Kentucky are out patching potholes every day now.
Their focus will be on priority routes first, which are interstates and four-lane highways.
Given the recent cold temperatures, rain and snow, Kentucky transportation officials say they’ve seen an uptick in potholes in Northern Kentucky.
Crews are currently using a cold mix to help patch potholes.
“Unfortunately some of the material that we use during the winter months isn't as effective, but once the asphalt companies open up here in the spring, we can get hot mix which provides a better seal, but they're doing a lot of work right now with the cold patch and they're just going around and addressing potholes,” Nancy Wood, with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 6 office said. “There's a lot of potholes and we're taking them one at a time.”
Wood shares her message to people as they see more crews working during this time:
“If you see them and the flashing lights and trucks, you know you might have a few minutes delay. Just be patient and know that’s somebody's husband, father out there working, mother, trying to make our roadways safer and just be as safe behind the wheel when you see a work zone,” Wood said.
So if you hit a pothole and damages occur to your vehicle, who pays the bill?
"You can file a claim to the Kentucky Claims Commission, it has to be at least 250 dollars, you know there's a lot of stipulation about it. You have to be aware of the pothole to at least have a chance to fix it as well, but if you feel the need to file a claim you would go to the Kentucky claims commission, provide all the info, location, pictures, damage anything that pertains to that,” Wood said.
Wood says crews try their best to respond to a report of a pothole within 24 hours.
To report a pothole, call 1-800-PATCH-IT.
Or you can report a pothole online by clicking here.
You can also call 1-877-For-KYTC to report road hazards, such as downed trees, signs, potholes, etc.
Click here to file a claim with the Kentucky Claims Commission.
