As we all have seen, Arlington now has a substantial number of potholes problems after the winter storms. The county has disseminated the following message to civic associations about reporting potholes. Let us know if you have any problems that the county is not addressing.

Attacking County Roads; Asks Public to Help Spot Potholes


Arlington County's fearless Pothole Patrol is out in full force, battling the fierce new post-storm crop of potholes.

The coldest and wettest winter in recent history has severely impacted County roads. The severe cold -- combined with a lot of moisture – has created the perfect conditions for pothole formation and cold and wet conditions hinder pothole repair operations.

Residents Asked To Report Potholes

Arlington County is asking that residents call (703) 228-6485 to report problems on County streets to help the Pothole Patrol target problem potholes. In addition, the Pothole Patrol is surveying County primary roads to identify – and immediately fix – any potholes that they spot. The Patrol also is repairing damage to streets made during water main breaks, another severe storm casualty. This process will continue until spring - once the weather warms up, the County can apply more permanent solutions.

Residents Also Asked to Report Potholes on State Roads

County officials have been communicating to the Virginia Department of Transportation [VDOT] about potholes on State Routes in Arlington County. The County Board Chairman has spoken with the Secretary of the Virginia Department of Transportation about the problems, and County staff are in contact regularly with their regional VDOT counterparts. VDOT crews are now beginning to move from the interstates to local roadways.

Residents are asked to call VDOT at 1-(888) 383-8368 to report problems on State Routes, including:


- Columbia Pike

- Glebe Road

- 10th Street from Arlington Boulevard (Rt 50) to Fairfax Drive

- Fairfax Drive (between 10th Street and I-66)

- Arlington Boulevard [Route 50]

- Lee Highway

- Old Dominion Drive

- North Washington Boulevard from Glebe Road to the Falls Church/Arlington County line

- South Washington Boulevard

- Route 110

- Route 1 - Jefferson Davis Highway

- I-395

- I-66

What Causes Potholes?

Potholes are created by water, which infiltrates the surface layer of asphalt pavement and subsequently freezes beneath the pavement. As water freezes, it expands and 'heaves' the asphalt pavement. Constant traffic and ground stresses upon the distressed pavement ultimately results in the compromised asphalt being dislodged from the roadway, and the resulting cavity is termed a 'pothole.'

Winter weather -- which involves numerous 'freeze-thaw' cycles -- can be devastating to otherwise sound roadways.

Additionally, many of the asphalt roadways in Arlington County (particularly State Routes such as Glebe Road and Lee Highway) are built upon cement bases. While the concrete base provides exceptional structural integrity for the road, concrete and asphalt display markedly different thermodynamic properties (meaning they don't expand and contract at the same rate). The difference in thermal expansion and contraction rates between the two materials serves to exacerbate the already distressed asphalt pavement and accelerate pothole formation.