Potholes

Small, bowl-shaped depressions in the pavement surface that penetrate all the way through the HMA layer down to the base course. They generally have sharp edges and vertical sides near the top of the hole. Potholes are most likely to occur on roads with thin HMA surfaces (25 to 50 mm (1 to 2 inches)) and seldom occur on roads with 100 mm (4 inch) or deeper HMA surfaces (Roberts et al., 1996).

Pothole on a residential road after heavy rains.




Pothole as a result of fatigue cracking.

Fatigue cracking showing the beginning of a pothole.