What Creates a Pothole from Michigan DOT under the and the right under this statement. The Birth of a Pothole Below is an explanation of how a pothole forms provided by the Michigan Department of Transportation. The Birth of a Pothole - Step 2 1.
Potholes begin after snow or rain seeps into the soil below the road surface.
The moisture freezes when temperatures drop, causing the ground to expand and push the pavement up. The Birth of a Pothole - Step 4 3. As the temperatures rise, the ground returns to normal level but the pavement often remains raised. This creates a gap between the pavement and the ground below it. When vehicles drive over this cavity, the pavement surface cracks and falls into the hollow space leading to the birth of another pothole.