Traversing Berrien County roads this winter may be particularly jarring, with an increasing number of potholes spurred by vastly fluctuating winter temperatures.
With temperatures ranging from 10 degrees to near 60 degrees, the perpetual freeze thaw cycle worsens road conditions, according to Berrien County Road Commission Director Louis Csokasy. The pavement stress happens when water gets under the pavement and freezes, causing expansion. As temperatures rise and fall this happens repeatedly, creating wear.
The pothole problem is less common when the road just stays frozen, Csokasy said.
To tackle the problem, between 15 to 20 crews, with 20 to 30 workers hit the streets to pack the potholes.
Drivers who spot a pothole can notify the Berrien County Road Commission that the road needs to be fixed by calling the road commission at (269) 925-1196 or by filing an online complaint at bcroad.org/index.
“We respond to any pothole that has been reported,” Csokasy said. “We are on those potholes all day long and we know the good roads and bad roads.”
Csokasy said crews use a winter mix of asphalt that is softer and more adhesive than the summer mix. It is also more expensive.
Winter pothole mix costs about $100 a ton, whereas summer mix, which does not have as adhesive a quality costs $60 a ton, Csokasy said.

This winter, Csokasy said it is not uncommon to use 30 tons of asphalt a day to make repairs.
But as drivers and road commissioners know all too well, filling a pothole can be a temporary solution.
“The best way to fix a pothole is to not have one,” Csokasy said. “We have places where [the asphalt] lasts for years and places where it lasts for hours.”
Even if the asphalt makes it through the winter, it is likely not going to stay in place as summer weather approaches, meaning road crews have to go back out to fill potholes with the summer time mix of asphalt.
The best chance of eliminating potholes is repaving the road, a project that has to take place during the warmer weather months.
Csokasy said road commissioners meet with Berrien County city supervisors in February to make a plan to replace certain areas of road. Re-pavement criteria is based on how traveled the road is and how bad the road’s condition is.
This year, Csokasy said the Berrien County Road Commission has approximately $26.2 million designated for road projects. The budget is created in September the year before.
This year Csokasy said they are expecting to be about $100,000 under budget.
Residents can check on road projects by visiting the Berrien County Road Commission website.
This year, the Berrien County Road Commission will have another budget tool to help them conquer problems like potholes.
In March, state road commissioners will be able to utilize funds being collected through a statewide tax on gas and vehicle registration.
According to Csokasy, the prepaid sales tax on gas will increase 7.3 cents from 19 cents, benefitting the Michigan roads statewide and hopefully meaning a few less potholes.