Prolific Potholes Plaguing Swampscott

The brutal winter has left Swampscott residents snow weary and shovel sore and Swampscott roads pothole pockmarked.

Local and state crews have been out fixing the craters, but Swampscott residents say there are still plenty of tire-crushing chasms out there.

Here are a few to watch out for, as reported by Swampscott Patch readers on Facebook:

• Big one on banks road! (Barbara Nî Loinsigh Yasi)
• On Paradise road heading north between Walker and Whole Foods there is a big one. (Stephanie Goodman)
• Essex street by Olbash driving school (Valerie Foresta)
• Foster is a mess...(John Zisa)
• The bridge on Essex Street (Meredith Paige)
• Orchard Circle (Stephanie Poster)
• Half the road seems to be sinking on Ingalls Terrace. There is a 2-inch gap between the two sides of the road.(Richard Jache)

To report potholes on state roads, call MassDOT at (857) 368-4636, or toll-free at (877) 623-6846, or visit MassDOT’s online contact information web page to send an e-mail.

Potholes result as water from snow and rain seeps into small cracks in the roadway surface, according to state highway officials. As temperatures drop, the water freezes and expands, making the cracks larger until potholes form. Heavy traffic, pavement age, vehicle weights, and snow and ice operations contribute to the problem.

Under State Law, Chapter 81, Section 18 of the Massachusetts General Laws states if a pothole causes damage to your vehicle, the State and Town is not liable. You must report the damage to your personal automobile insurance company.

Linda Bock contributed to this article.