CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – VDOT and the City of Charlottesville are teaming up to repair potholes from the winter in what the city calls a “Pothole Blitz.” VDOT has already begun, and the City of Charlottesville will begin Monday, Feb. 23

“We know you see them and don’t like them, and we don’t like them either,” VDOT’s Chief of Maintenance and Operations Kevin Gregg said in a release. “Motorists can help ensure that potholes are identified and repaired as quickly as possible by reporting them through our Customer Service Center. We ask travelers to please keep a lookout for our crews as they work to repair the roadway.”

VDOT administers to the roads in the counties, including Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, and Louisa, while Charlottesville takes care of their city streets.

“If you see a pothole, take note of its location and report it to the City as we work to improve the safety and condition of our streets,” Charlottesville Public Works Public Service Manager Jonathan Dean said in a release.

In the city, that can be done by calling the Public Service Division at 434-970-3830 or by using the MyCville app.

For the counties and interstate, motorist can report potholes and other road problems on VDOT’s website or call 800-FOR-ROAD any time of day to report road hazards or ask questions.

While potholes can form year-round, a release from VDOT stated that more can be expected after freezing temperatures, heavy snow and rain, all of which Virginia has seen this winter season. Potholes form due to moisture seeping into pavement, where it freezes, expands and thaws, weakening the pavement in the process. This weakened pavement can begin to crumble over time due to the weight of traffic.

The release went on to explain that when VDOT receives a report of a pothole, it is communicated to local crews, and repairs are scheduled in accordance with its location, the volume of and impact on traffic in the area and its severity. Crew then inspect the issue and determine the appropriate action and timeline before scheduling repairs. VDOT cannot do a permanent repair to the pothole until temperatures warm up but can temporarily fix potholes with cold patches in the winter.

In meantime, Triple-A urges caution as you drive the streets after this past winter storm. Triple-A MidAtlantic’s Morgan Dean told Cville Right Now hitting a pothole can cost money, usually with the tire and possibly its alignment.

“Bigger problems can cause much more money,” he added, “such as denting rims, damaging wheels, dislodging wheel weights, displacing struts, dislocating shock absorbers, damaging exhaust systems, misaligning steering, and rupturing ball joints.”