POTHOLE PATROL: Email us and we’ll alert the DOT

Tired of dodging potholes? Email us where they are and we’ll alert the DOT!!!

It’s a problem drivers face every day in Wilmington: Potholes. And those potholes can put a dent in your car and your wallet.

The Department of Transportation says it is being proactive in finding and fixing the potholes, especially after the recent cold weather.

The DOT says potholes form when moisture saturates the ground and gets into the layers of the asphalt. The asphalt then expands, causing the ground to crack. Potholes are a result of normal wear and tear, aging asphalt, and the weather.

DOT crews are out on a daily basis looking for potholes and fixing them, but if you come across one that is not fixed, the damage can be severe.

"It can damage a rim, or a tire, or knock your vehicle out of alignment which will make it drive poorly and wear your tires out quickly," said Eddie Harden of Black’s Tire and Auto. "$100 to $125 dollars, and to replace a rim can be as high as $500."

DOT’s Jerry Taylor says New Hanover County repairs on average about 60 square yards a day of damaged asphalt.

Tune in tomorrow at 5 p.m. as we ride along with DOT crews as the travel around the county repairing more potholes.