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The Commissioner's Report
(archived)
NJDOT launches $15 million
attack on potholes
Under a $15 million initiative, the New Jersey Department of Transportation is ready to take on the spring pothole season with 100 road crews, six special "pothole killer" trucks, paving contractors and a new online reporting system.
NJDOT is prepared to commit all of its 100 road crews to fill potholes and to call in paving contractors to entirely repave stretches of road badly damaged by potholes. To help the NJDOT keep on top of repairs, I would encourage you to report potholes either by calling toll-free: 1-800-POTHOLE, or by going online.
Although the actual extent of this year's pothole problem will not be known until the advent of spring, NJDOT is geared up to undertake substantial repairs if necessary. This has been a severe winter weather season, with snow totals of 56 inches, five times the totals for last winter.
Potholes are created by major fluctuations in temperatures that cause moisture in roadways to freeze and thaw, breaking up the pavement. Such temperature changes typically occur in the spring as days become warmer, but temperatures drop below freezing at night.
NJDOT crews will fill potholes the old-fashioned way - by shoveling asphalt into the craters, and with the use of automated "pothole killer" trucks that require just a pair of workers to make repairs. A half dozen of the trucks will be used statewide, each capable of putting down three tons of patch a day.
Since January 1, we have poured more than 600 tons of asphalt into potholes across the state as temporary repairs until the warmer temperatures allow for permanent repair work. The 600 tons of asphalt was used to fill an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 potholes.
But of course, the job has just begun.
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