Report a Pothole? See It Fixed in Six Hours

Since kicking off the Missouri Department of Transportation’s aggressive pothole patrol focus, crews have patched reported potholes within six hours, on average.

MoDOT has responded to more than 100 reported potholes since the program began March 2. 

Read our previous story:. 

Through the month of March, MoDOT crews in St. Louis have committed to filling any reported pothole on interstates and state numbered and lettered routes within 24 hours of it being reported on weekdays. 

MoDOT asks St. Louis motorists to continue reporting potholes by calling 1-888-ASK MoDOT or visiting www.modot.org/stlouis. With motorists’ help reporting potholes, crews are able to patch them early and get the asphalt mix in while the hole is still small before it needs a major repair.

As each pothole is reported, it saves money and resources for the state. 

Crews will continue to be out on St. Louis highways responding to potholes. There have been three MoDOT trucks hit by motorists this month while crews were repairing potholes. 

Potholes form when temperatures warm up during the day, but continue to be cold at night. This is the main cause of potholes in highways and why they are prevalent during spring. The rain and snow from winter leave moisture that seeps into the cracks and joints in the pavement. When temperatures drop, that water freezes and expands the pavement. This expansion causes the pavement to bulge and crack. When cars drive over the bulging pavement, it eventually causes chunks of pavement to pop out.   

The goal for this initiative is to temporarily patch the pothole as quickly as possible. That patch will be replaced with a permanent repair in the spring or early summer.