31 January 2024
TOPEKA (KSNT) – As many local drivers are well aware, potholes are an annual problem in Topeka and across northeast Kansas. As the City of Topeka works to remedy what it calls a temporary pothole emergency, 27 News asked the experts whether it’s better to drive around potholes or over them.
Troopers with the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) told 27 News the best thing to do during pothole season is to pay close attention to the road in front of you. To maneuver over the potholes, troopers said it’s important not to slam on your breaks so you don’t put added pressure on your front axles and tires. Instead, try to slightly guide when you can. It’s also good practice to drive slower and keep a safe following distance from the car in front of you.
Also, drivers should be on the lookout for water sitting on roadways. Deputy Director of Topeka Public Works Tony Trower said standing water may be an indicator there’s a pothole.
“Every time it rains… the moisture is sucking down in that crack into the base,” Trower said. “And then it’s going to create a pothole once the sun and the temperatures warm up. It’s going to pop out.”
Trower said city crews are working day and night to repair as many potholes as they can during this pothole emergency. After Thursday, he said he’ll have a better idea about whether crews need to continue round-the-clock patching next week.