How are runways different form highways that they never seem to have potholes? Is it how they’re constructed? Or how they’re maintained?
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Runways are re-paved quite often. That’s the only thing you can do to stop potholes, cause water gets in, freeze, and the ice breaks it apart. Repeat for some years and entire chunks will detach. When you re-pave you fill those gaps with new tar, preventing further deterioration.
This said, a runway is generally a gigantic concrete slab with tarmac on top. It’s not built like roads. If you drive a big plane on a road full load, it would sink in the road. We are speaking of 10-30ton per individual wheel.
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