LONDON, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Britain's Local Government Association said water freezing after seeping into cracks in roads is causing an epidemic of large potholes.
The association said the phenomenon, known as "freeze-thaw," is likely to cause local councils in England to far surpass the nearly $69 million spent repairing 750,000 potholes last year, The Daily Telegraph reported Friday.
"The wet combined with the freezing conditions destroys tarmac very quickly. As the ice seeps into the road it expands and rips chunks of the surface out leaving potholes blighting the highways," said David Sparks, chairman of the association's transport board. "Potholes are the gaping sores in our road network and councils know how much motorists want to see the proverbial bandage being applied."
The West Sussex County Council said expects to spent $1.4 million fixing potholes this year and the Derby City Council said about $718,000 has been set aside for pothole repairs.
