By Tracy Overstreet
tracy.overstreet@theindependent.com

"We have to try to keep it in the best shape we can before the (widening) project comes on," said Steve Riehle, the city's public works director. ""It's what you've got to do."

Riehle said Second Street from Randy's Auto to the Women's Club has been especially hard hit.

"The freeze and thaw is having an impact," he said.

"It's not the freezing of the pavement it's the freezing of the water in the hole or asphalt," that causes the asphalt to break apart, Riehle said.

In other parts of the city, some streets are even "heaving up," which results in potholes and rough roads, he said.

The freeze/thaw coupled with heavier traffic compounds a small hole and makes is larger, Riehle said.

It costs about $4 to fix each dinner-plate sized pothole, Riehle said. That $4 covers both the cost of UPM (universal patching material) and labor.

He expects to use funds earmarked for crack sealing streets to cover the costs during this year's higher-than-normal year of potholes. If costs overrun that line item, Riehle said the city will use funds it had planned for cleaning out water detention cells to cover expenses.

Not filling the holes can take its toll in other ways.

Front-end vehicle repairs typically cost between $400 to $800 per vehicle said Kevin Petersen, counter salesman at Garrett Tires and Tread, 3004 W. Old Potash Highway.

The need for such repairs can be brought on by repeatedly hitting unfixed potholes.

"You get a lot of jarring and it works the parts more," Petersen said. "We've seen a lot more as far as front-end damage in the past weeks ball joints, tire rod ends and alignments."

AAA Nebraska recommends that motorists keep tires inflated to full pressure. A properly inflated tire "provides as much cushion as possible between the pothole and the rim of the tire," a AAA news release stated.

Tailgating and hitting a pothole at high speeds should be avoided.

"When driving over a pothole-filled road, hold the steering wheel firmly to avoid losing control," the AAA release stated.

"Do not brake when directly over a pothole," the release continued. "Applying the brakes causes the car's weight to shift to the front of the wheel and can increase damage from the impact."

Once Second Street is widened and rebuilt, it will be much less susceptible to pothole problems, Riehle said. New storm sewers should remove water from the street and the concrete holds up better than asphalt to freeze/thaw challenges.

Until then, though, street crews are vacuuming water from the holes and patching them as best they can, Riehle said.

Grand Island residents can help add to the longevity of streets by trying to keep storm water inlets clear of snow or ice. Riehle said chipping away an opening can help drain water off the street and thereby lessen the chance of potholes forming.