PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — As spring temperatures fluctuate, potholes are becoming a persistent problem on the roads of Brown County.
The freeze-and-thaw cycle is to blame, as water seeps into road cracks, freezes and expands, pushing the pavement upward. When the ice melts, it leaves gaps that collapse under the weight of passing vehicles, forming potholes.
Michael Piacenti, operations manager for the Brown County Highway Department, said, “We’ve got pothole crews out just about every single day, and we fix them as we see them.”
The department typically uses a cold patch — a black, goo-like substance — to repair potholes. However, Piacenti noted that sometimes the cold patch is not enough due to weather conditions.
“Sometimes because of the weather, even the cold patch does not stay, so you’re sometimes filling the same ones over and over until you get mastic on them,” he said.
The Brown County Highway Department is responsible for maintaining approximately 2,000 miles of road. Residents can report potholes to the department, and repairs will be made as soon as possible. Piacenti clarified that not all roads in the county fall under their jurisdiction.
“The difference between the county and state roads and municipalities is any road that has a number — like 41, 43 — that’s state, and then any road that has a letter — like County Highway, EB, HS, G — even if it has a name, those are county roads. If they just have a name, it’s municipal,” Piacenti explained.
You can call the Brown County Highway Department to report potholes at (920) 662-2169.
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