SOUTH BEND — Expect rough roads ahead. Potholes are popping up, and road crews can't patch them fast enough. And it's getting pricey for the city.

The fluctuating temperatures and melting snow are creating big potholes.

Some of the worst areas in the city are on State Road 23 from Edison to Five Points, on Cleveland from Ironwood to Crestview, and on Western Avenue from the Bypass to Chapin.

Crews say more wet weather will force them to buy more materials.

"I have noticed a lot more potholes in the streets," said driver Mike Berta.

"Every spring we have the same problem," said Dick Detino, another driver. "There are always potholes, I know the city tries to fill them as quickly as they can."

It only takes minutes, but with this many potholes, it becomes an endless task.

"As soon as we drive over it a few times, it will come right up and the hole is just going to get bigger and bigger," said driver Audrey Dillon.

"A lot of people say, 'You patched it yesterday, and it's Tuesday and they are open [again] today.' That's the reason — because it's freezing at night," said Sam Hensley, South Bend Street Department commissioner.

That's forcing drivers to find ways to navigate the bumpy roads.

"I dodge them," said Dillon.

"I notice I'm going back and forth trying to avoid them a lot more," said Berta.

In January, South Bend street crews worked 2,500 hours of overtime trying to patch potholes.

"We have used approximately 125 tons of cold patch compared with last year when we used only about 125 tons period," said Hensley.

But they keep popping up.

"We pay them to maintain our roads; and if that is maintaining, I am looking at the wrong picture," said Dillon.

The biggest expense has been overtime — cold patch only costs $55 a ton.

South Bend still has 125 tons, but they expect to have to buy more before the end of the year.

For information on reporting a pothole or filing a claim of damage resulting from a pothole, click on the "Report a pothole" link in the Related Content box.

Do you know where the worst potholes are? Let us know by adding a comment to this story!