A cold winter has contributed to extremely pothole-laden roadways throughoutPoland.Warsaw has had a consistently cold winter since the beginning of December, andcold winter nights have allowed water to freeze and expand in crackedroadways.
Women walk past an advertising board on a snow-coveredstreet in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010. (AP Photo/CzarekSokolowski) Temperatures have averaged between 3 and 6 degrees F below normal, accompaniedby prolonged snowy and icy conditions.While this winter isn't record breaking, it has been substantially andincessantly cold for Poland.
Many drivers have reported damage to vehicles as a result of these potholes,and the General Directorate for National Roads admits that as much as 40percent of major roads have been affected.
The freeze-thaw cycle of warmer days and cooler nights paired with heavydriving causes stress to roadways.
When water freezes and expands in the cracks, it also makes its way intounderlying dirt and gravel. The dirt and gravel are pushed out, leaving a holewhen the water melts.
Poland is known for its low quality roads, even in the country's capital ofWarsaw. Many regions of Poland have not had road repairs in years.
The directorate is assuring citizens that major roadways will be repaired assoon as the weather breaks.
As of the last week of February, the weather has warmed significantly withnear- to above-normal temperatures set to last through at least the first weekin March.
The warming will melt away most of the snow and allow the ground to warm, butfreezing nights will continue to stress and further damage streets andhighways.
Story by AccuWeather.com's Carly Porter and Jim Andrews.
