Pothole season is quickly approaching, and to combat the roadway breakup, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will be reinstating its toll-free hotline for the public to report potholes they encounter on state highways.

The pothole hotline will be in effect from March 7 to April 1, the period of Pennsylvania's greatest pothole problems, said Lugene Keys, PennDOT community relations coordinator.

"With the continual spring freeze and thaw, it is hard to get ahead of the pothole problem," Keys said. She added that the volume of traffic combined with the freezing and thawing of the water under the roadways cause the roads to be more susceptible to breakup.

Centre County residents can report a pothole by calling the hotline at (800) 252-3549 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Callers must be specific about the pothole's location by reporting the state route number or local name of the road and the borough, township or city in which it is found. Landmarks near the pothole should also be provided. The location of the pothole will be forwarded to the appropriate county PennDOT maintenance office for repair.

Potholes can be reported at any time of the year to county PennDOT maintenance offices, Keys said.