It's pothole season in Decorah

Fifth Avenue has been especially beset by potholes this winter

It's pothole season in Decorah.  There's nothing unusual about that--every Midwestern community goes through that each year--but it is a little unusual to have the season start in February instead of April.

Decorah City Street Superintendent Kevin Nelson says potholes are created when water thaws, then refreezes, pushing the pavement out of the way.  Because this winter has been warmer than normal, there have been more days when the temperatures will get above freezing during the day, then go below freezing at night.

"We're doing what we can," Nelson tells decorahnews.com.  That includes using a different blacktop patch, one that attaches better to the existing pavement.

But there's only so much that can be done, so Nelson says the Street Department welcomes phone calls from the public (563-382-2157) with reports of potholes on local streets.  City street crews check the main traffic arteries routinely, but it's hard to keep track of all 50 miles of streets within the city limits.