Why are There So Many Potholes on the Road?

It is usually about this time of year when clients start asking about pothole repair. The resulting conditions of inclement weather and motor vehicle traffic have left many parking lots, streets, and various other paved ways, crumbling with damage. Now that the snow and ice have melted away, our local streets and roadways are hit with craters of all shapes and sizes. This has many drivers asking why so many potholes have suddenly shown up.

Continue reading to learn what causes potholes to form, as well as, how to repair and report local potholes in Indiana.  

Indianapolis Pothole Repair 317-549-1833
Indianapolis Pothole Repair 317-549-1833

Reporting Dangerous Potholes:

If you discover an obstructive or dangerous pothole that has not been repaired or closed off yet, you can report them to the city. Read our blog, “How to Report a Pothole in Indianapolis” to learn the various options for your area.

Pothole Formation

Potholes always seem to arise after a heavy winter of snow, ice, sleet, hail, and rain. Why? The root of the answer is permeation. Asphalt and concrete pavements are porous, which means water and other liquids, such as chemicals, can seep into the aggregate. During the harshest of winter, the moisture and liquid inside the pores of pavement will freeze, thus expanding the pavement around it.

As temperatures fluctuate throughout winter, these liquids will melt, refreeze, and melt again. This predictable process is known as the freeze-thaw cycle, and it is the root cause of pothole formation prior to spring. As water freezes, thaws, and freezes again, the surrounding pavement continues to expand and contract. Overtime, this movement causes the pavement to weaken, and eventually, break apart.

Methods of Pot Hole Repair

The umbrella method for pot hole repair is asphalt patching. This process can be accomplished using three different methods: hot asphalt mix, cold asphalt mix, and polyurethane asphalt mix. These are all cost-effective and efficient methods for repairing and patching pot holes in asphalt. Cold asphalt is mixed and poured at a lower temperature than other asphalt mixes, but its lifespan is not as long. Hot asphalt is a common choice for larger-scale pothole repairs because it is less available in smaller quantities. Polyurethane asphalt is customary option for pot hole patching because they last a long time, which is cost-effective for property owners.

Pothole Prevention

Preventing potholes in your pavement starts with proper installation. Without meeting all standards for pavement installation, including mixing, curing, and equipment, paved surfaces will not retain sufficient structural strength and durability, nor will they look nice. Aside from proper installation, routine maintenance is also important to protect paved surfaces from structural damages and water drainage issues. Talk to a local and trusted Indianapolis paving contractor for professional advice on both pavement installation and maintenance.

Indianapolis Paving Services

Call ACI Asphalt and Concrete at 317-549-1833 for professional paving services in Indianapolis, Indiana. We offer a wide range of asphalt and concrete services for commercial and industrial properties, at the most competitive prices in town, including inspections, installation, replacement, repair, and more. Request a free quote, today.

Why Can Soil Become Unstable Below Old Asphalt?

Often times, paving companies or contractors will begin a paving project, only to find that the soil beneath the old pavement is too soft and not stable enough to take on new material. There are a few common causes for soil instability, all of which can interrupt a paving project. But fortunately, unstable soil can be resolved. It just takes a few extra steps. Continue reading to learn what causes soil instability, and how to fix it for purposes of paving.

Asphalt Concrete Paving 317-549-1833

Asphalt Concrete Paving 317-549-1833

Causes of Soil Instability

There are three main causes of soil instability: 1) organic presence, 2) lack of compaction, and 3) poor composition. Look below for a brief explanation of each issue.

Organic Presence – The excessive presence of organic matter, especially decomposing organics, can cause soil to soften, making it unstable. This includes insects, leaves, plant matter, and water.

Poor Compaction – When soil lacks compaction, it is weak and does not retain the ability to properly bear weight. Lack of compaction means soil is soft and unable to stabilize for the purpose of bearing weight, such as paving material.

Poor Composition – The make-up of soil has a major influence on its level of stability. When improper levels of essential minerals, namely air, water, and organic matter, are present in soil, it lacks the ability to be strong. Soil needs just the right amount of moisture, matter, and air to be stable for paving.

Paving Over Soil

You cannot add new asphalt paving material on top of an unstable foundation. And soft soil is unstable. Instead, new asphalt paving solutions need to be considered and chosen. Most of the time, soft soil can be resolved, and once they are, paving projects can continue as planned. Various methods for treating soil instability have proven effective, either on their own or in combination with each other. They include practices such as:

Using drainage tiles to remove excess moisture from soil.

Excavating the soft soil and replacing it with a proper base material.

Tilling and turning the soil to encourage drying or hardening.

Using soil separation fabrics to prevent soil from intermixing with base materials.

Using reinforcement grids (geo grids) to even out the weight of the load.

Tilling chemical stabilization into the soil to change the composition to make it stronger.

Applying foam asphalt injections to mimic the characteristics of pavement.

Indianapolis Paving Contractors

Asphalt Concrete Repair

Asphalt & Concrete Service 317-549-1833

Call ACI Asphalt and Concrete Inc. at 317-549-1833 for professional pavement repair and installation in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. Owner Lindsey Lewis, and his team of licensed paving contractors, provide a wide range of asphalt and concrete paving services for commercial, industrial, and municipal properties throughout the state. As highly-trained and experienced pavers, you can trust us for quality service at an honest price. Call 317-549-1833 to
request an estimate for Indianapolis
paving services
, today.