Here’s what the dreaded pothole repair season means for Utah drivers
Mar 10, 2025, 5:30 PM | Updated: 9:03 pm
FILE: Southbound traffic is narrowed to one lane for pothole repair on I-15 near American Fork on Friday, Jan. 7, 2011. (Stuart Johnson/Deseret News)
(Stuart Johnson/Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Drivers on northbound Interstate 15 got a taste of pothole repair season on Monday morning.
That means they experienced rolling stoppages if they were driving between Bountiful and Farmington.
Related: Potholes getting on your nerves? UDOT’s new app can help
A Utah Department of Transportation spokesman said there were four large holes on the freeway in Davis County. And because the conditions were dry and sunny, it was a good time to fix them.
The rolling slowdowns happened between Parrish Lane in Centerville and Park Lane in Farmington.
UDOT spokesman Mitchell Shaw said the process of rolling stoppages is the best way to get holes fixed quickly. He said it takes more time to set up the cones and lane restrictions than it does to make the repair.
FILE: I-15 in Orem and Provo, after large potholes opened up in several locations. (Brian Champagne)
But, using rolling stoppages is only a temporary fix for potholes. Since temperatures are still likely to go below freezing overnight, UDOT is using what Shaw called a winter blend of materials to fix the holes. They may have to apply a permanent fix when the weather gets warmer.
Blame it on the rain and snow
Drivers can blame the weather for holes that crop up around this time each year. Wet road conditions funnel water into aging asphalt and the area becomes soggy. Continued traffic over the spot exacerbates the problem until there is a hole in the road.
Drivers can report potholes to UDOT via the department’s webpage.
Related: The problem with potholes: Utahn’s anguish and UDOT’s effort
