It’s almost time for pothole repairs

As Iowans adjust from winter chill to spring rain, there's another, lesser-known season on the horizon - pothole season. Bob Younie, director of maintenance for the Iowa Department of Transportation, said the freeze and thaw of winter takes its toll on Iowa's infrastructure, most typically the state's more weathered roads.

Once spring sets in, temperatures rise and rainfall eases, pothole repair becomes a priority for the state department.

But this year, which follows a relatively mild winter, shouldn't be so bad, Younie said.

'So far this has not been a very bad pothole season,” he said. 'We have not had as many freeze-thaw cycles as we've had in other years.”

On average, the Iowa DOT spends about $4 million a year on pothole repair, Younie said. The department manages about 9,400 miles of road, which adds up to about 25,000 total lane miles when multilane highways are factored in.

But while pothole work might not be as time-consuming as in previous years, Younie said there is no shortage of work to be done.

'Even though potholes are a significant part of our work and they're important ... there are maintenance items, too,” he said.

Those projects could include bridge repair, sign replacement, shoulder work, litter pickup or sealing or crack filling efforts, Younie said.

Many of those efforts help extend the life of Iowa's aging roadways.

'There's plenty of things to do,” he said. 'We try to take care of roads that we still can get some life out of by doing that preventive maintenance.”

Regardless of what projects take place in the coming months, Younie said motorists should be aware that road crews will be out in full force.

'I think we all need to recognize the fact that, when somebody is exposed to traffic, we need motorists to drive even more responsibly,” he said. 'Let's give those folks some room.”

Read more: Does Iowa have too many roads, not enough money?

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