Are Potholes Mini Sinkholes?

The question is, “Are potholes mini sinkholes?”

These mysterious holes some big some small, are appearing more and more on our streets and roads.

They cause motorists great anguish when trying to avoid hitting them, as they can cause a puncture or more serious damage to the undercarriage of a car.

So, what’s happening?

It’s claimed that potholes are caused by a structural failure in the road surface, and as water erodes the underlying soil structure and with traffic passing over the affected area it begins to break up, leaving a hole in the ground.

The definition of a sinkhole is a depression or hole in the ground.

So, with this in mind I’d exclaim that a pothole is the same as a sinkhole especially as both end up with a hole in the ground.

But hey, I’m no expert.

However, there’s one thing that fascinates me about potholes and sinkholes.

And that’s where the earth that was originally in the hole, goes to.  Do you know?

What do you think?

Author: Charmain Ingleton

www.thewalkways.co.uk