It's Pothole Season 2026 — How To Report Them In Tolland

TOLLAND, CT — It's pothole season in Tolland.

Crews from the Tolland Department of Public Works have already been out taking care of the annoying cracks and crevices, but, of course, there are more to come.

Said Tolland Town Manager Brian Foley, "With the weather breaking, DPW staff are now going after the potholes and other issues on our 133 miles of roads. It’s been a very bad winter for our asphalt."

Tolland residents can report pothole issues to 860-871-3696.

Drivers across Connecticut often notice a surge of potholes in late winter and early spring, a seasonal nuisance caused largely by water, freezing temperatures and heavy traffic.

Transportation officials say potholes begin forming when small cracks develop in aging pavement. Rain or melting snow seeps into the cracks and the layers beneath the asphalt.

When temperatures drop, the trapped water freezes and expands, pushing the pavement apart and widening the cracks. As temperatures rise again and the ice melts, the process leaves empty spaces beneath the road surface, weakening the pavement above.

Passing vehicles — particularly heavier trucks — then put pressure on the weakened area. Over time, the asphalt breaks apart and collapses, creating the hole drivers encounter on the roadway.

Once a pothole forms, it tends to grow quickly. Water collects in the opening, and repeated traffic dislodges more pieces of pavement, enlarging the hole.

The problem is especially common in northern states where temperatures frequently fluctuate above and below freezing. Those repeated freeze-thaw cycles accelerate the damage, leading to the rash of potholes motorists often encounter as winter transitions to spring.