How to Report Those Potholes on White Lake-Highland Area Roads

The Road Commission for Oakland County calls potholes a "never-ending problem."

White Lake-Highland Patch readers would agree.

Wednesday morning reader Keri Cleasby reported a pot hole on White Lake-Highland Patch's Facebook Page, "Big pothole covered in water has 20 cars pulled over and many police on the seen at Cooley Lake and Carey Road corner."

Reporting a pothole

County roads: If you see a pothole on a county road you can report them to the Road Commission.

• For large potholes with sharp edges — the ones that can damage vehicles — call the Road Commission at (877) 858-4804.
• For other potholes, fill out a form online here to make a report.

Michigan roads: For state-maintained roads, report potholes online here.

Why all the potholes?

The January thaw is the biggest cause of the holes in the roads. 

Potholes form when water flows into cracks, then freezes, expands, and pushes away the roadbed under the concrete or asphalt, according to information on the Road Commission website.

When temperatures rise, the ice melts, leaving an unsupported gap that becomes a pothole whenever cars, and especially trucks, pass over.

"Although potholes become plentiful when warm spells interrupt a long period of cold weather, such as the 'January thaw,' the largest number of potholes normally crops up in the spring as frost comes out of the ground," according to the Road Commission.

Have you been affected by a pothole this week?