Get Reimbursed for Hitting a Pothole in Woonsocket

In the wake of the brutal winter weather in the region, tire-hungry potholes are proliferating and pockmarking roadways as quickly as crews repair them.

DID YOU KNOW: Rhode Island has a law that reimburses drivers up to $300 for hitting a pothole. Drivers must make the claim within seven days of coming into contact with the pothole. For more information on how to make a claim, visit the RIDOT website.

How to report a pothole:

• To report potholes on local roads in Woonsocket, call the city’s Public Works Department at 401-767-9209.
• To report potholes on state roads, call RIDOT at (401) 222-2450, or email RIDOT at dot.customerservice@dot.ri.gov.

Don’t know if the pothole is on a local or state road in Woonsocket? Check out this map.

Why Do They Call Them Potholes?

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.

Patch editor Linda Bock contributed to this article.

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