(WXYZ) — Roads are a problem in Michigan and in metro Detroit. Everyone knows it, and the weather over the next few days in metro Detroit isn't going to help us.
In the days ahead, we'll be above freezing during the day, and then drop below freezing during the night. It's the perfect setup for potholes.
When we freeze and then thaw, freeze and then thaw, it creates potholes.
The way roads are set up is you have the pavement, the sub-base below the pavement and then soil beneath the sub-base.
Potholes are formed when water seeps into the base through a crack in the pavement. Roads are wet and snow is melting, so there will be a lot of water.
As temperatures drop at night, the moisture freezes and expands, which causes the ground to expand and pushes the pavement up.
That freezing and expansion create voids and gaps between the pavement and the base below it. As cars are driving over it, more cracks happen, it opens up, and then you get the holes you see.
Bottom line: Be careful and be on the lookout over the next few days.
