Submitted photo The West Virginia Division of Highways is busy milling and filling potholes around the state.

CHARLESTON — Asphalt plants are beginning to open around the Mountain State, and the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) has declared its annual War on Potholes.

Snow, rain, and constant freezing and thawing take their toll on roadways during the winter, leaving an annual crop of potholes to deal with in the spring. But winter is the worst time to try to patch potholes, because asphalt plants are shut down for maintenance, and temperatures are too cold for hot asphalt.

During winter months, WVDOH road crews can patch the worst tire busters with a mixture of cold asphalt, but these repairs are only temporary measures until asphalt plants reopen to start making hot asphalt.

To make a permanent pothole repair, road crews first mill out the area around a pothole about two inches deep, making a nice square or rectangular hole. Then, they sweep out all the old dirt and ground up asphalt to make a clean surface for the new asphalt to stick to.

Crews then lay down a layer of sticky tack to help the hot asphalt adhere to the hole. Crews fill the milled out hole with hot asphalt and roll it smooth with a roller. When properly done, a patch will last as long as the roadway itself.

Asphalt plants are currently open in the Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Clarksburg, and Princeton areas, allowing pothole operations to begin in earnest.

West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) road crews have continued milling and filling potholes around the state. The DOH was patching potholes in the following areas Thursday:

• US 60, WV 61, and Gabe Road, Kanawha County.

• WV 62, and WV 2, Mason County.

• US 60, Cabell County.

• WV 10, Lincoln County.

• WV 44, Thomas Hill Road, Hooker Road, Spartan Lane, and Cow Creek Road, Logan County.

• Rockhouse Fork Road, Mingo County.

• US 60, and WV 152, Wayne County.

• WV 16, and WV 5, Calhoun County.

• US 33, and First Creek Road, Jackson County.

• Hinkle Lake Road, Benedum Drive, Sugar Camp Road, and Katy Lick Road, Harrison County.

• US 250, US 19, Coal Bank Hill, Four Wheel Drive Road, and Old Monongah Road, Marion County.

• US 19, WV 705, WV7, Osage Road, and Cheat Road, Monongalia County.

* Middleville Road, Taylor County.

• US 60, Pea Ridge Road, and Sunday Road, Fayette County.

• US 219, and WV 12, Monroe County.

• US 19, Clear Fork Road, Maple Fork, Peach Tree, Spruce Mountain, and Maple Fork Road, Raleigh County.

• WV 85, and WV 10, Wyoming County.