Gov. Bob McDonnell today directed the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to focus efforts during March on patching the thousands of potholes giving motorists bumpy reminders of the hard winter Virginia has endured.

VDOT will make pothole repair its top priority between March 1 and March 31. The agency will use state crews and contractors to conduct a pothole blitz aimed at quickly identifying and repairing roadway hazards. VDOT is also asking for citizen’s help to identify potholes as they form to speed repairs.

“Motorists traveling across Virginia know best where the worst potholes lie. We want citizens to help us identify potholes as they form so that VDOT crews can quickly be dispatched to make repairs,” McDonnell said.

To report a pothole, citizens should visit www.VirginiaDOT.org or call VDOT’s Highway Helpline at 800.367.7689 (ROAD). TTY users, call 711.

Safe driving tips, pothole patching videos, and other useful information on potholes is also available on VDOT’s Web site.