Potholes Causing Headaches for Tallinn, Drivers
Over the last seven days, police have received as many as 38 calls about vehicles damaged as a result of driving over unmarked potholes in the capital.
“When we receive a call, we go to the location and establish the traffic layout - whether there any speed restrictions or other signs. We identify damage to the car and that is all we can do,” Helen Uldrich, a spokeswoman for the North Prefecture, told Postimees.
She added that roads are normally maintained by local municipalities and after the police have established cause and damage, victims must contact their local governments for compensation.
Three repair teams
The head of Tallinn's communications bureau, Ain Valdmann, said that until spring repair teams are only focusing on larger potholes.
“Three brigades are working around the clock and sometimes we try to put more out. But it's clear that not all one-layer asphalt holes will be fixed,” he said.
He noted that patching holes in winter is many times more expensive than doing the same work in summer.
This year's milder weather is the main cause of the high number of potholes. Formation of holes in asphalt is exacerbated by temperatures around zero degrees. When water freezes, it expands and puts greater stress on asphalt. If temperatures fluctuate around zero, this process repeats, causing bigger and bigger potholes.