Question for New Englanders

[cynsaun]

Ok, we moved here a few weeks ago, and I noticed then that there were signs that said, "Frost Heave." They have been taken down now, but it has piqued my curiousity.

What is that?

 

[JennyMominRI]

Ok, we moved here a few weeks ago, and I noticed then that there were signs that said, "Frost Heave." They have been taken down now, but it has piqued my curiousity.

What is that?

When the ground gets really cold and frozed is seizes up and you get little ripples in the road..I'm not good at explaining this,but that's as close as I can get

 

[cynsaun]

Ah, I see...I think! Thanks!

I was thinking those places were where the DOT would heave snow. But, then I realized it said FROST not SNOW!

 

[gallaj0]

nature's speed bumps. They are also usually the start of potholes.

 

[Mermaid02]

They can be BIG holes up here in Maine.... March is the month that is usually the worst.

 

[jellymanoffspring]

Interesting...do they occur in the same area each year or like potholes where the road is worn etc??

 

[JennyMominRI]

Interesting...do they occur in the same area each year or like potholes where the road is worn etc??

From my time in NH ,they were in the same place every year,with new signs popping up as new sections of road weakened
Google gave me this info
Frost heaves occur when water gets under a road surface, freezes, expands and forces the road upward and cracks it open an inch or two at the peak. Frost heaves traditionally have a rise of 3-6 inches above the road surface and usually permanently damage it. Approaching frost heaves too fast encourage wrecks from sudden loss of control. Some roads and regions are subject to frost heaves. Hopefully signs are posted in those regions to warn you of the danger.

 

[cynsaun]

I'm such a moron! I didn't even think to google it. I DISed it instead!

 

[jellymanoffspring]

Thanks Jenny!!
And Cynsaun..don't feel bad.. I enjoyed learning about them...
I live in NJ lots of potholes but no frostheaves here....
its really interesting!
and if I ever happen to be up north during the winter..its good to know!

 

[SplshMtn99]

Like a pothole, you don't want to hit a frost heave at high speed. It can do a # on your car. They warn you of them, so you slow down.

 

[monarchsfan16]

Frost heaves are your worst nightmare. You know how DOT will sometimes put up signs on the highway that say "Bump"? Multiply that bump by about 10 and you get a frost heave. And as a warning for your children; frost heaves really hurt when you hit them on a bus. Buses don't slow down. I hit the ceiling a couple times when I was younger I flew so high.
Welcome to New England!

 

[jonestavern]

Welcome to NH Cynsaun!
the heaves will sometimes appear clustered, a washboard effect other times just a HUGE bump! They tend to show up in the same places year after year, but be aware of those surprises!
Do keep an eye out for the moose--they are tough to see at night & unpredictable. Despite what you might hear, they most definately are about in the day, also.

Jean

 

[Jennifer48]

Frost heaves usually form when there is a wet day (either after it rains or when snow melts), and the water gets underneath the pavement and then freezes. When it freezes, it expands the pavement upward and you get the frost heave. Not so much a hole in the ground like a pothole until the pavement on top falls apart and there is like portion of the pavement missing. Hope that makes sense.