🧊 Polar Vortex in New Jersey: What Commercial Property Owners Should Inspect This Week Before Potholes & Trip Hazards Appear
The polar vortex and freeze–thaw cycles in New Jersey are about to create potholes, heaved asphalt, and drainage failures. Here’s what commercial property owners should inspect now to prevent liability claims and costly repairs.
Every winter in New Jersey, we get a few cold days.
But when a polar vortex parks itself over the state like it has this week, it’s different.
This isn’t just “cold weather.”
It’s the kind of deep freeze that quietly damages parking lots — and then surprises property owners a few days later when temperatures rise above freezing and everything starts to fall apart.
If you manage or own a commercial property, this week is when problems begin showing up fast.
And if you wait until spring?
You’re often too late — and now you’re dealing with:
- Trip-and-fall claims
- Damaged vehicles
- Emergency patching
- Higher repair costs
Let’s walk through what’s happening and exactly what to look for.
❄️ Why the Polar Vortex Damages Asphalt So Quickly
Asphalt isn’t solid like concrete — it’s flexible and porous.
When temperatures drop into the teens or single digits:
- Water seeps into small cracks
- It freezes and expands (about 9%)
- That expansion forces the pavement apart
- Then it thaws… leaving voids underneath
Repeat that cycle 5–10 times in a week and you get:
👉 potholes
👉 sinking areas
👉 heaving
👉 drainage failures
This week’s forecast — deep freeze followed by above-freezing temps — is the exact recipe for damage.
🚨 What You’ll Start Seeing Over the Next 3–7 Days
1. Potholes Opening Overnight
Potholes often appear fast — sometimes literally overnight.
They usually show up:
- In drive lanes
- At entrances
- Where trucks turn
- Around existing cracks
Risk:
- Tire and suspension damage
- Slip hazards when filled with water
- Liability claims
What to do this week:
Drive the lot slowly and look for dark depressions or loose chunks.
2. Heaved or Raised Asphalt / Concrete (Trip Hazards)
When frozen ground expands underneath the pavement, it literally pushes the asphalt upward.
This creates small “speed bumps” or lips.
Sometimes it’s only 1–2 inches — which is exactly the height that causes trips.
Risk:
- Slip & fall claims
- ADA non-compliance
- Insurance headaches
What to do this week:
Walk entrances and pedestrian routes. Feel for height differences with your foot.
3. Catch Basins & Drains Popping Up or Sinking
Drainage structures move more than anything else in winter.
The metal and concrete expand differently than asphalt.
So you’ll see:
- Raised grates
- Sinking basins
- Cracked edges
- Water pooling
Risk:
- Trip hazards
- Standing water
- Accelerated pothole formation
- Snow/ice buildup next storm
What to do this week:
Check every drain after snow melts. Look for rocking or gaps.
4. Cracks Getting Wider & Spiderwebbing
Small hairline cracks today become big problems by spring.
If water keeps entering, those cracks turn into:
➡️ potholes
➡️ base failures
➡️ expensive patching
What to do this week:
Flag any crack wider than ¼”.
These should be sealed ASAP before the next storm.
A Simple 15-Minute Inspection Checklist
Walk or drive your property and check:
☑ Entrances
☑ Main drive lanes
☑ Loading docks
☑ Sidewalk transitions
☑ Catch basins
☑ ADA routes
If something looks questionable — it probably is.
💲The Cost of Waiting vs Acting Now
Here’s what we see every year:
| Repair Timing | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Early pothole repair | $300–$500 |
| Ignored → base failure | $2,000–$5,000+ |
| Slip & fall claim | $10,000–$50,000+ |
| Vehicle damage claim | unpredictable |
Most winter issues are cheap if caught early and expensive if ignored.
✅ How We Help (No Pressure)
At FixAsphalt, we perform:
- Infrared pothole repairs (permanent, not cold patch)
- Trip hazard leveling
- Catch basin rebuilds
- Emergency winter repairs (even during cold weather) 7 days a week
If you want a second set of eyes, we’re happy to:
👉 walk the property
👉 identify risks
👉 prioritize what actually needs attention now vs later
No obligation. Just practical advice.
Schedule a quick winter pavement check here:
👉 FixAsphalt.com
Final Thought
Winter damage doesn’t happen all at once.
It shows up quietly over a few warm days after a freeze.
This week is that window.
A 15-minute inspection now could prevent a lawsuit later.
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