Roads in Tippecanoe County cracking, crumbling after winter

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) – Officials in Tippecanoe County say they’re working to make repairs after seeing the area’s worst winter road damage in decades.

24-Hour News 8 sister station, WLFI-TV, reports the recent thaw brought cracking and crumbling roads in some areas, more than the usual potholes that are seen after winter.

Tippecanoe County Highway executive director Opal Kuhl said authorities received 67 calls about damage in one day last week.

“All of the frost just seemed to come out of the ground at the same time,” Kuhl said. “So instead of having a pot hole in one area, a whole section of the area would crumble and break.”

Repairs will be more costly this year, Kuhl said, diverting funds from other road projects.

The county highway budget is roughly $2 million, but county commissioners could decide to provide more money for repairs, she said.

“I’m sure it’s going to be at least a couple hundred thousand dollars, if not more than that, just for these repairs,” she said.

Kuhl said repairs will take “a lot longer” than usual, and that residents should be patient.

Crews are making temporary fixes until they can use hot asphalt, which Kuhl said could be ready as soon as next week.