Philadelphia Faces Increased Pothole Formation Due to Weather Fluctuations
Philadelphia is experiencing a significant increase in pothole formation due to frequent freeze-thaw cycles during late winter and early spring. These cycles cause water to seep into road cracks, expanding when frozen and exacerbating road damage. Waymo, in collaboration with Waze, plans to deploy self-driving vehicles to map potholes in Philadelphia, aiding the city's efforts to address this issue. The Philadelphia Department of Streets has already repaired 26,000 potholes this year, following a rough winter that contributed to the problem. Waymo's vehicles will detect potholes through road feel, using accelerometers to note bumps and vibrations, and share this data with city officials to facilitate timely repairs.