PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — With pothole season in full swing and another winter storm expected to hit our region, AAA Mid-Atlantic is warning drivers to be cautious of potholes in disguise.
A winter storm is expected to hit the region late Monday, starting with rain and easing into a snowy mix overnight. But, according to our partners at NBC10, snow may not stick in every area because of recent warmer temperatures.
NBC10 has issued a first alert for Berks, Bucks, Chester, Lehigh, Mercer, Montgomery and Northampton counties starting 2 a.m. Tuesday.
PennDOT spokesman Brad Rudolph says because it’s expected to begin as rain, they are not planning to apply brine to Philadelphia-area highways for this storm. But PennDOT is ready to deploy 180 state plow trucks and call in contractors if necessary.
Jana Tidwell, a spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic, says with heavy rain expected, more potholes are likely to pop up.
According to PennDOT, potholes form when water from melting snow or rain seeps through cracks in a road surface during warm weather, then freezes and expands when temperatures plummet.
AAA says since the beginning of January nearly 7,000 of its members in the Delaware Valley called for flat tires due to potholes — an increase of about 15% from this time last year.
Tidwell says sometimes when a driver hits a pothole — that can sometimes disguise itself as a mere puddle on the road — it may not result in a flat tire, but it could cause other costly repairs.
"Oftentimes there is damage underneath the vehicle that, over time, presents itself.”
Tidwell says the average price for pothole damage is $600.
“That might not be a tire at all, it could be a suspension issue. It could be the muffler."
AAA recommends drivers slow down, scan the road for potholes, and increase following distance, as this could give you more time to avoid potholes hidden by the vehicle in front of you.
Experts say properly inflated tires that have healthy treads could also help reduce the risk of blowouts or flats.
To report a pothole in Philadelphia, call 311 or submit it here.