SCDOT hopes to pave way to smoother Columbia, one pothole at a time

Potholes have long plagued South Carolina roads, especially in Columbia, but their formation is no mystery.

Multiple factors contribute to pothole formation, including years of backlogged maintenance, increased traffic, poor weather conditions and the state’s focus on interstates over primary roads, according to Forbes. 

As a result, 24% of South Carolina’s urban roads are reported to be in poor condition, while 35% are considered good, according to the Federal Highway Administration’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. 

Hannah Robinson, the public information officer at the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), recognizes weather conditions as one of the biggest factors in pothole formation and road maintenance.

“After winter storms and flooding caused significant pavement damage, we saw an increase in pothole repair requests,” Robinson said.

Potholes develop when water seeps into cracks, freezes and expands, breaking apart the pavement or asphalt until it gives way. Hitting a pothole can lead to blown tires or other vehicle damage, increasing the risk of losing control or failing to stop in time to avoid an accident, according to the Joye Law Firm.

But the SCDOT has revived its Pothole Blitz initiative, a statewide effort to improve road safety. Maintenance crews will work extended hours to repair potholes across the state over the coming weeks.

Robinson said the initiative serves as a warm-weather push to address the damage caused by winter weather and transition into paving season.

“We had a winter storm, a couple of winter storms, and some flooding,” Robinson said. “So we had some damage from those ice and snowstorms that kind of damaged pavement in some areas. And so we decided a good way to segue into our paving season, when we conduct the majority of our paving work, would be to have our Pothole Blitz, which we’ve done in the past.”

The last Pothole Blitz took place around 2018 or 2019, making this the first major effort in several years. Robinson said the department is actively encouraging residents to report problem areas through an online form.

“The form that we ask people to fill out is on our website all year round, and we do fill potholes all year round, weather permitting,” she said. “We’re in the process of gathering lists for our crews to respond to. We don’t have a set deadline, but we’re aiming to repair as many as possible during this window.”

The department has not yet released specific figures, but Robinson confirmed that reports have increased since the initiative launched. 

“We’ll have a report this week that has some specific numbers on it,” she said. “Since we began, we’ve been seeing an increase in those pothole reports just because, again, we’re advertising to people, ‘Hey, please report them if you see them.’” 

Still, Columbia residents remain skeptical about whether the initiative will provide lasting relief.

Connor Ladd, a Columbia resident who commutes daily along Whaley Street, has mixed feelings.

“I’ve seen them patch potholes before, but it feels like a temporary fix,” he said. “A few months later, the same holes open back up. I hope this blitz actually fixes them for good. But I’ve lived here long enough to know they always come back.”

Ladd, like many locals, believes potholes are just part of the reality of driving in Columbia.

“You have to be alert or else you’re going to hit them,” he said. “Eventually, you just get used to them and know where they are to avoid them.”

But he acknowledged the effort as a step in the right direction.

“If they’re getting more crews out there, that’s good,” Ladd said. “There have been a few on Whaley that I’ve noticed patched up. I just wish they focused on actually repaving some of the roads instead of just patching them.”

Robinson reassured residents that while pothole repairs are a routine part of SCDOT’s work, the Pothole Blitz aims to bring extra attention and manpower to the problem.

Columbia residents can visit the SCDOT website or call (855) 467-2368 to report a pothole or other road maintenance issue.