Mild Winter Weather Means More Potholes For Drivers To Dodge

DETROIT (WWJ) - Mild weather has meant fewer potholes this year, right?

Think again.

Craig Bryson of the Road Commission for Oakland County says despite the warmer winter weather, there have actually been more potholes this year.

Warmer days followed by freezing nights mean the roads expand and contract, creating cracks. However, Bryson says the milder weather means crews have been able to go out about every day and fill them. As for the budget for salt...

"First few weeks of January we had a lot of little snows, which most people may not recognize ... but even if we get a dusting of snow we have to be out salting and occasionally plowing," said Bryson.

"Our pothole patching crews have had not shortage of work, they have been out the last couple of weeks -- they've been out just about every day pothole patching all over the county," he said.

Bryson says with no major snowfalls, the county has saved some on overtime, but there have been enough light dustings that they've actually used about the same amount of salt as last year.