AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As wintry weather coats Central Texas Tuesday, its impacts could last long after the snow and ice melts from the roadways -- including in the form of potholes. As temperatures dip into sub-freezing terrain, the water in any precipitation expands as it transforms into ice, experts at the Austin-based pavement engineering firm The Transtec Group noted. When that expansion happens, it pressurizes the pavement and exacerbates existing cracks in the roads. As the water seeps into those cracks and expands, it can disrupt the bottom layers in the roadway, causing shifts that can create uneven road surfaces. Once temperatures warm back up, that freeze-to-thaw cycle can lead to worsening pavement conditions, including potholes. In the event of snow and ice aggregating on roadways, that weight can serve as a stressor to roadway surfaces, which are further inundated by plowing or deicing chemicals applied as treatment. While salt and chemical deicers are a trick to improve traction and help melt ice, they can have a corrosive effect on both asphalt and concrete, The Transtec Group wrote. When used over an extended period of time, it can expedite the rate of deterioration. The Transtec Group said regular inspections can help with early detections and responses to road cracks and emerging potholes. The firm noted alternative deicing materials are being explored in the roadway maintenance industry to minimize long-term road health impacts as well as environmental issues.