It's been over 50 years since serious reconstruction ocurred on over half of Maine's state roads, according to the Maine Department of Transportation. The result of that neglect becomes painfully apparent this time of year as the frost comes out of the ground and potholes reappear. We believe highway bases were saturated with water from the fall rains when winter began early. With the freeze-thaw cycles this Spring, highway pavements have been stressed more than usual, leading to more pavement cracking than usual.
Water seeps into the cracks in the pavement and freezes.
The water expands when it freezes, cracking the pavement even more. When the roadway thaws, it thaws from the top down, leaving a layer of ice that acts as a pan, holding the water on top of it. All of this is beneath the pavement surface. When a vehicle comes along, it pushes the pavement down, forcing the water to the sides and increasing the distress on surrounding pavement. Eventually, a small section of pavement breaks loose.