If roads seem particularly riddled with potholes this spring, that's thanks to the weather this winter.
The previous two winters were mild, but that wasn't the case this year, says Cincinnati Traffic and Road Operations Superintendent Jarrod Bolden. "We've filled more (potholes) this year already than we did all of last year," he says. "We are over the 18,000 mark already this year, and I think we did 14,000 all of last year."
To report potholes in the City of Cincinnati, use the FixItCincy! app (available for free on iTunes and Google Play) or call 513-591-6000.
To report potholes on Ohio interstates or U.S. or state routes, fill out this online form from the Ohio Department of Transportation.
In Hamilton County, call the Communications Center at 513-825-2280 or contact your local maintenance authority directly.
In Kentucky, visit Report-a-Pothole or call 1-800-PATCH-IT.
In Indiana, visit www.indot4u.com to report the pothole. You can also call 855-INDOT4U (463-6848). For potholes on city streets or county roads, contact the proper city or county maintenance department.
"We are over the 18,000 mark already this year, and I think we did 14,000 all of last year."
In Cincinnati, one crew can patch about 20 potholes, and the city can send out up to eight crews per day, according to Service Area Coordinator Rich Robins.
Right now, crews are using "hot mix," a combination of AC20 (liquid tar) and recycled asphalt. It is stored in an asphalt hotbox at 200 degrees, shoveled into the pothole, tamped down, and left to cool for five to 10 minutes, depending on size.
The city's largest hotbox holds four tons of asphalt. Robins says the biggest pothole he's seen took one ton of patch material to fill.