YORK, Pa. — As winter sets in, PennDOT is urging drivers to watch for new damage on Pennsylvania roads, while a national report highlights deeper structural concerns for many bridges across the state.
Every year, the freeze-and-thaw cycle leaves its signature on roads, jagged cracks and potholes etched into the pavement. PennDOT spokesperson Fritzi Schreffler says that pattern isn’t random. Moisture trapped in the asphalt, combined with fluctuating temperatures, creates stress that eventually splits the pavement.
“Freezing one minute to a warmer temperature the next… that freeze-thaw cycle is what causes potholes and cracks and some road deterioration,” Schreffler said…