Potholes Salt has often been blamed for causing potholes. Potholes are caused by water entering the grade below the surface of the road and then freezing. As the water freezes, it expands in volume. This freezing can cause the road surface to heave. Thawing leaves a cavity or weakened spot beneath the surface.
Traffic then causes the surface to collapse into the cavity creating a pothole.
It has not been shown to have any chemical reactions or bad effects on asphalt or the air-entrained concrete that is available today for road building. As soon as 71 vehicles drove over the highway, the average direct costs were offset by direct benefits. The study found that costs related to accidents, including medical expenses, emergency services, workplace costs, travel delay, property damage, and administration and legal expenses decrease by 88 percent after application of deicing salt. Use of salt, in conjunction with a good plowing program, is the fastest and most efficient means of snow and ice removal. The use of abrasives requires at least seven times more materials to treat a given distance of roadway.