How to deal with potholes in Colorado

Yahoo

11 hours ago

MORRISON, Colo. (KDVR) — A major pothole on eastbound Interstate 70 near the Morrison exit brought traffic to a halt on Friday and left several drivers dealing with unexpected car damage.
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The Colorado Department of Transportation said the pothole formed rapidly around 7:30 a.m. during heavy rain. It opened up on a section of bridge deck that's already under construction as part of a larger resurfacing project.
'A large pothole quickly formed in a span of 20 to 30 minutes… CDOT crews immediately responded with lane closures, and contractor crews will work through the afternoon to make sustainable repairs,' the department said in a statement.
Two eastbound lanes near the Morrison exit were closed while crews scrambled to patch the damage. By Friday evening, one lane had reopened.
Skyler McKinley with AAA said while potholes are a part of life on Colorado roads, this one was unusually disruptive.
'This is a factor of life, we do get bad potholes in Colorado, it's rare that we have a catastrophic one,' McKinley said. 'The catastrophic ones are fixed quickly because everyone's going to be watching this on the news—including the folks in charge of repairing the potholes.'
Multiple FOX31 viewers reported damage to their vehicles after hitting the pothole. McKinley said even a brief jolt from a pothole can have lasting impacts, and warns drivers to stay alert for subtle changes in their car's performance.
'Potholes and hitting potholes can cause irreparable suspension damage,' McKinley said. 'So if you notice anything in your vehicle—steering, vibrating, sounds you weren't used to, delayed steering, gumminess, tackiness, anything has changed in your driving experience? In the hours, days, weeks after you hit a pothole, take that to a mechanic as soon as you can.'
He added that quick action is key when it comes to insurance claims and repair timelines.
'If you hit a pothole and you know something is wrong, go to your mechanic and call your insurer immediately thereafter,' McKinley said. 'And if you haven't hit a Colorado pothole yet—we get them bad because of the thawing and freezing on our roadway—consider upgrading your insurance.'
According to AAA, the average out-of-pocket repair bill for pothole-related damage can top $500, depending on the severity.
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CDOT reminds drivers to slow down in work zones and report roadway hazards when possible. The agency said construction on that stretch of I-70 typically takes place overnight, and as of Friday night, one lane is back open.
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