Pothole season in Indianapolis is approaching. Here's what you need to know.

Be aware: You may soon find yourself slaloming down Indianapolis' crumbling roads once again.

Though recent temperatures in the Circle City have been bone-chillingly freezing, the weather could warm up to a balmy 60 degrees by Monday. That may sound like a pleasant change, but it's one that could wreak havoc on our streets.

"When the temperature increases, it does cause damage to our roads," said Charnay Pickett, public information officer for the Indianapolis Department of Public Works. 

"We know what weather conditions are going to cause damage to our streets, and we know what to do ahead of that, so we can have our team ready to go fill potholes," Pickett said. 

New potholes would further deteriorate Indianapolis' already substandard roads. A February 2018 audit, conducted by the Indianapolis Department of Public Works, estimated that $732 million was needed to upgrade more than 8,100 miles of Indianapolis streets from "poor" to "fair." Another $178 million, the report said, was needed for upkeep.

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What Indianapolis is doing to repair streets

In January, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett announced his 2019 transportation improvement plan, which called for $126 million to resurface roads, fix bridges and enhance pedestrian safety. The plan is part of a larger four-year, $400 million infrastructure package to repair and rebuild roads and bridges.

The projects are divided into four categories: resurfacing, streets, bridge rehabilitation and bridge replacement. On the docket are 46 street-improvement projects, including 32 resurfacing projects. Notable projects include:

  • Binford Boulevard: Lanes from 38th to 75th streets will be resurfaced and get improved signage and pedestrian safety measures.
  • 16th Street: The multi-lane roadway from Polco Street to Lafayette Road will be resurfaced.
  • West Street: From Bluff Road to Wisconsin Street, portions of asphalt will be resurfaced and concrete segments rehabilitated.
  • Mithoeffer Road: All lanes from Prospect to Washington streets will be resurfaced.

To see a complete list and map of all of the improvement projects, visit: indy.gov/activity/major-transportation-projects

How potholes are formed

Potholes are formed when water seeps into the ground and the road base, eventually making its way into the pavement. When temperatures get cold, that water freezes, expanding within the pavement and pushing it upward.

When temperatures rise, the ice melts, leaving behind a bubble in the pavement where the ice once was. When cars drive over those bubbles, they pop, crumbling into a cavity beneath our wheels.

How potholes are fixed

Workers shovel hot asphalt into the pothole. It is usually filled a little higher than the rest of the surrounding pavement, because it eventually settles and becomes even with the rest of the street. 

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Road resurfacing projects will be a welcome sight for Indianapolis in 2018.

How to report potholes

To report a pothole on an Indianapolis street, you can use RequestIndy's interactive map to pinpoint exactly where the pothole is located. You can also call DPW at 317-327-4622. 

To report a pothole on an interstate highway, U.S. highway, or state road, you can make a service request on the Indiana Department of Transportation's website or call 855-463-6848.

To see how many current reports of unfilled potholes there are, use the Indy Pothole Viewer

Can I file a damage claim with Indianapolis if I hit a pothole?

Yes, but the vast majority of those claims are denied. Last March, IndyStar reported on the hundreds of damage claims that had been filed by that point in the year. At the time, Indianapolis had approved just one of those claims — for a total reimbursement of $203.83. Here's why they're so rarely approved

Correction: This story has been updated to correct Charnay Pickett's name. 

IndyStar reporters Kellie Hwang and John Tuohy contributed to this report. 

Andrew Clark is Facebook editor for IndyStar. Call him at 317-444-6484 or email him at andrew.clark@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Clarky_Tweets