Potholes Are So Bad That TDOT’s Commissioner Is Out Filling Them

Drivers in the Nashville area should expect to see rolling lane closures on interstates and state highways, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

TDOT is re-paving lanes on I-40 and I-24 around Nashville, where simply patching the potholes is not effective. It’s closing lanes in both directions until at least Wednesday.

A new video from TDOT shows workers filling potholes with asphalt on 440, as cars closely roll by. Commissioner John Schroer, dressed in a bright yellow vest, cautions drivers to pay attention before taking a shovel and helping workers.

“We’ve got all sorts of safety vehicles here,” he says over the roar of the highway. “Everybody’s dressed out in their safety gear, but it’s still a very dangerous job.”

A spokeswoman says drivers should notice improvements by the end of the week. TDOT doesn’t deal with claims for vehicle damage due to the bad roads — that task falls under the treasury department. As of Monday, the department was receiving 10 to 20 claims a day.