A cycle of frigid cold followed by rapid warming is causing potholes to pop open over metro-area roads, leading to about 30 vehicles being disabled on westbound U.S. 36 on Monday night and prompting crews to do patch work.
“There is a freezing-and-thawing cycle that’s unusual for this time of year,” said Nancy Kuhn, spokeswoman for the Denver Department of Public Works.
So far this year, Denver workers have filled about 20 potholes. But Kuhn said she expects a lot more reports crews that monitor the problem in Denver as well as from the public.
“We will be hearing a lot more pothole complaints,” Kuhn said.
About 78,000 potholes were filled in Denver last year, which is normal, Kuhn said.
The department also stayed within its $2.2 million pothole budget in 2014, she said.
Calls began coming into police about 7:30 p.m. Monday about pothole problems along a stretch of U.S. 36 from Davidson Mesa to the Boulder city limits, officials said.
As many as 10 potholes caused blown tires and forced vehicles onto the shoulder. Police shut down the right lane until about 11 p.m. for cleanup and to investigate.
U.S. 36 contractor Ames Construction sent roadside help to tend to the stranded motorists and filled the potholes, said state Department of Transportation spokeswoman Amy Ford.
Other parts of the metro area are dealing with pothole problems, because of the rapid changes in temperature, Ford said.
“When it’s really cold and then really warm, you get the quick expansion and contraction of the pavement,” she said.
“It’s something we should expect to see in the future if the weather continues to be variable,” Ford added.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907, mwhaley@denverpost.com or
