MoDOT Uses Warmer Weather to Tackle Potholes Across Missouri

St. Louis, Mo. (KFMO) - While Punxsutawney Phil may have predicted six more weeks of winter, recent warmer weather is giving the Missouri Department of Transportation an opportunity to focus on pothole repairs statewide.

Potholes form when daytime warming and nighttime freezing allow moisture to seep into cracks in the pavement. As the water freezes and thaws, it weakens the roadway, eventually causing chunks of pavement to break loose. Missouri Department of Transportation prioritizes pothole repairs during the spring months. In 2025, MoDOT patched more than 650,000 potholes at a cost of $20 million.

This season, about 300 patching crews will be working statewide. Drivers are reminded to slow down, move over, and give crews space as they work to keep Missouri roads safe.