Metro Detroit Pothole Season: How To Report Potholes, Tips

METRO DETROIT — Michigan's winter season is once again ripping apart roads and highways throughout metro Detroit. In February, the region saw two significant snowstorms, followed by 50 degree weather with heavy rain, and another 1-3 inches of snow on Thursday. The fluctuating temperatures and weather patterns are causing more and more potholes to form, and more and more headaches for Michigan drivers.

State officials encourage anyone who sees a pothole on state roads, whether you hit it or not, to report it using the Michigan Department of Transportation Report a Pothole form or call 888-296-4546. Most state roads begin with M, I or US, for example M-39 (Southfield Freeway), I-96 (Interstate 96) or US-23.

To report potholes on local roads and streets, residents are asked to contact the county directly. However, reporting a pothole does not cover any claim for damage done to a vehicle. You can fill out this damage claim procedure and form to submit a claim if your vehicle was damaged by a Michigan pothole.

Driving in Michigan means navigating around potholes, and state officials encouraged all drivers to stay vigilant on the roads, including keeping your headlights turned on and avoiding puddles. Most drivers tend to either speed up or slow down when they see a pothole, but state officials said it best to land somewhere in the middle.

"If you see a pothole ahead and can't safely steer to avoid it, it's best to slow down, then release the brakes before you hit the pothole," the Michigan Department of Transportation's website said.

Reducing speed right before you hit a pothole gives the vehicle the best chance to absorb the impact, resulting in less damage. It also makes sense to drive through the pothole head on, avoiding awkward angles, which could damage the tire and other front-end parts, such as tie-rod ends and ball joints.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently released a statement regarding the state's the budget plans to address road infrastructure.

"The budget that I just introduced is the largest infrastructure investment in Michigan's history, with $1 billion more than the previous year to fix even more roads and bridges and support tens of thousands of good-paying construction jobs," Whitmer said.