No, you aren’t making it up — there really are more potholes around town this year.
A string of sub-zero-temperature days in January, followed by sudden warming and rain, have turned driving the Indianapolis streets into an IRL version of Forza, The Pothole Edition. City officials say that they have seen an increase in the number of potholes reported this year after last year’s relatively mild winter.
However, help is on the way. City officials announced Wednesday the early opening of hot mix asphalt plants throughout Central Indiana, which should offer rapid and longer-lasting fixes for the pock-marked pavement. Indianapolis has six certified hot mix plants, which typically open in early spring as temperatures consistently eclipse 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
At a press conference Wednesday morning outside a Family Dollar on the east side, Mayor Joe Hogsett called hot mix asphalt “the best response we have available to us” for Indianapolis’ 8,400 miles of road.
What is hot mix asphalt?
Asphalt comprises a blend of small rocks, sand and gravel bound by bitumen, a viscous, highly malleable black substance found naturally or refined from petroleum. When these components are heated to around 300 degrees, the ensuing hot mix asphalt contains stronger bonds, making it more resistant to moisture and changes in temperature. This in turn means it will ideally last longer and not crumble at the next temperature swing.