Milwaukee’s spring thaw is back, and so is the annual ritual of drivers swerving around craters that used to be streets. This year’s crop of potholes is already chewing through tires, wheels and suspensions, with local body shops reporting repair bills in the hundreds of dollars as city crews hustle to keep up.
Riverwest Autobody owner Peter Bilgo told TMJ4 that his shop “is booming” this time of year. He pointed to a recent case where a Toyota limped in with a wobbling rear wheel after a pothole hit, which ran about $250 to fix. Bilgo said drivers should get their cars checked out if the steering suddenly feels off, they hear new noises, or they start to feel shaking after hitting a hole.
Why potholes get worse in spring
“It depends on the year. It’s more of a freeze-thaw,” Milwaukee city engineer Jerrel Kruschke told TMJ4, explaining that water trapped under pavement expands when it freezes, then breaks up the roadway as temperatures swing back and forth. The Department of Public Works says it aims to respond to reported potholes within one to three days and is asking residents to flag the worst spots by calling 414-286-CITY or using the city’s online reporting page.
City patching, sponsorships and the long view
The Milwaukee Brewers recently kicked in $27,500 to the Department of Public Works to buy an asphalt hotbox and fund stenciled patches. The program will cover 75 logo-marked repairs, according to WISN. Even with that boost, a DPW report estimated it would take roughly $821 million to rebuild the city’s local and collector streets, a figure detailed by WPR. That scale of need helps explain why crews often rely on quick cold-mix patches at this time of year instead of full reconstruction.
How drivers can protect themselves
Auto-safety experts advise watching the road ahead and slowing down when you see chewed-up pavement to cut the force of any impact. Keeping tires properly inflated and in good condition is another key defense, according to AAA. If you hit a pothole and then notice new vibrations, the car pulling to one side or strange noises, they recommend having a trusted shop check your alignment and suspension before a minor issue turns into an expensive repair.
What to do if your car is damaged
If a pothole does a number on your vehicle, start by documenting the hole and the damage with photos. Then submit a service request through the city’s online reporting page on the City of Milwaukee website or call 414-286-CITY to alert crews…