More potholes after winter - municipalities struggle with damage

Smaller holes are currently being repaired

Smaller holes are currently being repaired with cold asphalt in many places. "Due to its product properties, cold asphalt is suitable for immediate repairs even at sub-zero temperatures," said the district of Stendal. Hot asphalt can then be used for repairs from March onwards.

The costs vary greatly, as the Saxon State Office for Road Construction and Transport (LASuV) explained. For smaller repairs with cold mix, the material costs are around 1.00 to 2.50 euros per kilogram. A pothole with a volume of around 40 liters incurs material costs of around 140 euros.

In Thuringia, too, the winter has created a number of new obstacles for drivers. Some districts are reporting significant damage on their county roads. In the Saale-Holzland district, for example, the damage is in the six-figure range, according to a spokeswoman. There are more potholes this winter than in previous years. The districts of Eichsfeld and Nordhausen reported similar reports. The city of Gotha even assumes that the damage will roughly double.

No exact overview of the situation in Thuringia yet

However, the damage elsewhere was similar to previous years. The Weimarer Land region, for example, reported that the frost period this year was comparatively constant. The city of Gera reported a manageable number of potholes - although these had become larger. This is due to the fact that more old "patches" are breaking up. In many districts, no inventories have yet been carried out.

The Thuringian Ministry of Infrastructure does not yet have an overview of how badly the winter has affected the state roads. The current winter season will continue until the end of April. Only then will an assessment be made, according to a spokesperson.

No additional funding for repairs

In Saxony too, there is not yet an overview of the winter and frost damage. The Saxon State Office for Road Construction and Transport (LASuV) will only determine the damage together with the districts during the annual spring inspection at the end of the winter season.

Until then, the districts will repair acute danger spots at short notice with so-called winter patching, which involves the use of cold mix. According to the LASuV, the funds for the repairs come from the regular budget provided by the federal and state governments for road maintenance. There are no special funds for winter damage.

Pothole causes hour-long closure in Leipzig

In neighboring Leipzig, a pothole eight to ten centimeters deep caused an hour-long road closure in the city center on Monday morning. According to the city, the repair cost around 1,500 euros. Various potholes had already been damaged throughout the city in the weeks before.

The city therefore assumes an above-average damage balance compared to the past three years with rather mild winters, according to a spokeswoman. A final inventory has therefore not yet been carried out.

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