Pothole season came early this year.
Two lanes of I-95 northbound between the Newark toll plaza and DE-896 will be closed until 6 p.m. on Thursday as crews work to repair a section of roadway that has severely deteriorated.
DelDOT is advising drivers to use caution and follow directions of personnel on the scene.
On Wednesday night, workers excavated a 30 by 13-foot section of the roadway 24 inches deep to remove all of the damaged concrete, said CR McLeod, a DelDOT spokesman.
"The December snow and extreme cold temperatures we saw into early January, followed by the more moderate temperatures over the past 10 days, has caused potholes large and small to develop around the state as a result of the freeze-thaw cycle causing the pavement to expand and contract," he said.
Potholes vary in size and condition, so DelDOT uses different methods to repair them, McLeod said.
Crews use a material called cold patch, McLeod said, which is asphalt that can be used in lower temperatures and even rain until temperatures rise and a more permanent solution can be applied.
"Smaller potholes can be filled in minutes, while larger ones, such as what we saw happen on I-95 north over the past week, require a much more intensive repair that closed lanes for nearly 24 hours," McLeod said.
Drivers can report potholes by calling DelDOT's Transportation Management Center at 302-659-4600, #77 on a cell phone, or through e-mail at deldottmc@state.de.us.
Potholes can also be reported on the DelDOT website and its free mobile app under the report an issue tab.
This story will be updated.
Contact Christina Jedra at cjedra@delawareonline.com, (302) 324-2837 or on Twitter @ChristinaJedra.