Nashville drivers were warned on Friday that incoming rain could open up more potholes on city roads. The Nashville Department of Transportation said the wet weather could worsen pavement already weakened by cracks and wear.
The warning comes as the city says it has already filled more than 11,300 potholes since Jan. 1. Drivers can report new damage through the hubNashville mobile app, online at hub.Nashville.gov or by calling 311.
McConnell and Associates said potholes form when precipitation seeps into pavement that has cracked from environmental exposure and general wear and tear. The company said the problem peaks in colder months, when water gets into cracks, freezes, expands and forces asphalt apart, then thaws and drains away, leaving hollow spaces beneath the surface.
Those voids weaken the road and make it easier for passing vehicles to break it down further. With rain expected in the coming days, more potholes could open across Nashville just as drivers are already dealing with a large backlog of repairs.
