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Leaving winter, entering pothole season

Now that we’ve gone through the most recent attack of snow and ice, a familiar scourge is once again visiting the Tri-State Area:

The pothole.

They’re everywhere. They’re on side streets and main roads, and they’re found in parking lots at businesses.

They’re in Toronto, Mingo Junction, Follansbee and Wellsburg. They’re on state Route 2. U.S. Route 22 is not immune. Neither is Main Street in Wintersville, Sunset Boulevard in Steubenville or Pennsylvania Avenue in Weirton.

Every driver has his or her favorite hole that has developed along the usual driving route.

And the potholes aren’t going anywhere for awhile.

We’ve had a lot of snow this winter, and now that February’s colder-than-average temperatures have been replaced by warmer-than-average temperatures it’s a sure bet that asphalt will crumble, and holes, large and small, will emerge.

And, it’s likely to continue until — or even after — spring arrives on March 20.

We drive the same roads that you do and experience their condition on a daily basis. There’s no easy solution to be offered — only patience. Efforts to patch won’t be effective until the weather warms up. Until then, take it easy while driving. Watch speeding into puddles because that water could be hiding a wheel-bending hole.

Be cautious on roads where you know holes are and watch for other drivers trying to avoid the worst of them. Hopefully, they’ll do the same for you as you try to avoid the worst of them.

Soon, hot asphalt will be available and those same crews who have worked valiantly trying to keep the streets passable all winter will be working just as hard to make more lasting improvements.

Don’t hesitate to report your “favorite” potholes to your local government, but remember, we’re all in this together, and a little understanding about the situation will certainly be appreciated.

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