Spring has arrived, and with it potholes, including this selection (below) from the Highlands. The hazards form when water seeps through cracks in the asphalt, then freezes, pushing up on the road surface. During the thaw, the aggregate base has weakened enough that the weight of passing vehicles collapses the asphalt and the hole expands as it is hit. Next on the schedule: Mud.
Photos by Michael Turton
Mud is something that people living on dirt roads have to contend with all of the time, not just with the spring rains but with pretty much any rain or inclement weather.
We live off the east end of Indian Brook Road. We respect the idea of preserving the dirt roads, but the excess of mud, washouts and potholes can only be solved through proper drainage. The more permanent road surface such as asphalt that would allow for that drainage in a few carefully selected areas would alleviate what you see in these photos and help keep the excessive use of Item 4 (an aggregate road-surface mixture) from washing into and polluting our streams.
The Philipstown Highway Department is doing a good job, but some practical and long-lasting solutions would make a lot of sense. We have taken part in meetings looking for a compromise to this problem but with some folks it’s all or nothing. It’s time to use our tax dollars wisely and to start taking control and fix these problems.