Two “p”s become prominent and problematic this time of year: pollen and potholes. The Virginia Department of Transportation can at least do something about the latter, if not the former.

“One of the busiest times for filling is right as the winter ends,” Virginia Department of Transportation spokesperson Jennifer McCord said in an email. “The constant freeze and thaw throughout the winter usually results in a burst of potholes.”

According to McCord, state maintenance crews and contractors have already filled over 25,000 potholes in Northern Virginia; Virginia is on pace to match its total of around 146,000 filled last year statewide.

Repairing potholes fall under the $256 million Northern Virginia maintenance program, which also includes grass mowing, patching, paving and snow removal. That program covers most roads in Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William Counties, as well as interstates and primary roads in Arlington.

Citizens can report an existing pothole or file a claim if their vehicle was damaged as a result of encountering one. The Virginia Department of Transportation customer service line, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, is 800-367-7623 (ROAD), while the website for reporting a problem is www.virginiadot.org/travel/citizen.asp.

Claim-processing time can be lengthy, McCord said, as the claims department must examine factors such as whether or not the pothole in question was already scheduled for repair and if there was reasonable time for the repair to occur.

For more information about pothole repair, visit www.virginiadot.org/info/faq-potholes.asp.