Potholes are popping on North Texas roads after last week’s ice storm and road crews are working to quickly repair them.
Drivers now face bumpy pothole hazards after navigating over bumpy ice encrusted bridges.
Cayleigh Collins said she confronted potholes on Interstate 35E R.L. Thornton Freeway in Oak Cliff Friday.
“The potholes are crazy. When you get up on them, I thought like my tire was going to pop off. It’s crazy,” Collins said.
Repair crews expect the number of potholes to increase as temperatures rise.
Acting Dallas Street Director Dennis Ware said extra patching crews will be added next week through the weekend before Christmas when he expects the pothole problem to peak.
“We will see the effects manifest in a couple of weeks so we’re getting ready for that to come,” Ware said.
This round of winter weather may be harder on roads because there was so much freezing rain.
“This event was pretty unique,” said Texas Department of Transportation spokesman Ryan LaFontaine. “The freezing rain that fell, had it been snow, it would be a different story. But because it was rain was able to get in the cracks and freeze up.”
The freezing water expanded and now as temperatures increase loosened pavement causes potholes.
“It will happen more for sure as time goes by over the next couple of weeks,” Ware said.
Collins said she will be on guard.
“I don’t want to pop a tire. You have to dodge them. It’s dangerous,” she said.
