Potholes are wreaking havoc again, leaving drivers swerving and road crews scrambling

Welcome to pothole season, when area roadways — and drivers — pay the price as winter and the bitter cold prepare to give way to spring and warmer temperatures.

“I think it’s worse this year, everywhere,” Jessica Bernard, 35, of Harrison City said Sunday morning before walking into the Harrison City Amoco gas station. “You can never avoid them.”

PennDOT officials said they don’t believe this year is any worse than previous years when it comes to various craters forming on roadways. Regardless, they said, there’s little they can do to permanently address the problem until the region escapes the freeze-thaw cycle that accompanies this time of year.

“We are continuously patching these holes and will be looking for a more permanent repair when the weather and resources permit,” said Robb Dean, assistant district executive of maintenance for PennDOT District 12, which includes Westmoreland County. “As the infrastructure ages and the wet weather with repeated freeze-thaw cycles continues, we do see potholes in various locations.”

Potholes are popping up throughout Greensburg, said Tom Bell, the city’s director of public works.

“The freeze-thaw has a lot to do with it,” he said. “That water gets underneath there. If you’ve got any type of stress cracks or things like that, that water gets down in there and starts to lift (when it freezes). Anything that’s not sealed or any types of openings, it gets into that asphalt, and — boom — there you go.”

Bell said a two-man crew works to repair roadway damage it sees while scanning neighborhoods.

The scene is similar in the Alle-Kiski Valley.

Lower Burrell and Harrison road crews have been filling potholes between snowstorms, officials said.

Harrison patches potholes all winter “so we don’t get swamped in the spring,” said Randy Martinka, the township’s superintendent of public works.

His crew works on less than 100 miles of township streets and alleys. Although many roadways aren’t major arteries, the lesser-used streets still are heavily traveled within neighborhoods, he said.

The township’s road crew has used about 20 tons of cold patch since Jan. 1, he said. That’s about on par with previous years, he said. A township truck fills potholes several days a week.

“It seems to work out better that way,” Martinka said.

Lower Burrell public works employees were filling potholes with cold patch Monday.

“Knock on wood, we have not received pothole complaints yet,” said Todd Giammatteo, director of the city’s Department of Public Works and Parks, which is responsible for about 70 miles of roadway. “Anytime we get plowable snow, we are out as soon as possible after things dry out to patch the holes.”

There has been a persistent pothole at Leechburg Road and Illinois Drive. The city crew keeps patching it, but it keeps opening up, Giammatteo said.

That is what happens with cold patching because it’s temporary, said Steve Cowan, spokesman for PennDOT District 11, which includes Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.

“Once we fill a pothole, it could pop out the next day,” he said. “Until the weather warms up and asphalt plants open in the early spring, this is what happens coming out of the winter freeze-and-thaw cycle.”

In East Deer, commissioners Chairman Tony Taliani expects more potholes to appear as temperatures warm.

“Right now, they have not popped up yet, but we anticipate they will start to make an appearance in the warmer weather in a month or two,” Taliani said.

He added that the township is prepared to address potholes as they occur, with plans in the summer to resurface streets in poor condition.

Hempfield’s director of public works, Doug Cisco, reported a typical number of potholes so far this year.

He said a pothole crew is out daily, weather permitting.

“I haven’t seen anything increase or decrease any differently than it is any other year with the typical freeze-thaw we always have,” he said.

Pothole-related damage to vehicles can cost drivers hundreds of dollars in repairs.

Jonathan Weimer, manager of Export Tire in Murrysville, said a lot of drivers have come in with damage they attribute to potholes.

“A lot of cracked wheels, blown tires, a lot of flat-tire repairs,” Weimer said. “But mainly a lot of cracked wheels on newer vehicles.”

Vince Spino, owner of Spinos Tire Service in Greensburg, said he is seeing about one customer per week with pothole-related damage.

“It’s normal,” he said. “From snow plowing and the weather changes and the temperature, you get this every year.”

Stefan Martin, 56, of Greensburg was pumping gas at a Sunoco in Greensburg and said Route 30 was like traversing an obstacle course.

“Some places are actually patching, but some up by (Westmoreland Mall) — oh my goodness, on (Route) 30, it’s pretty bad,” he said. “I’ve got to watch my car because, before I know it, I’m going to break an axle or lose a tire.”

Staff writer Mary Ann Thomas contributed.