Pothole Season: Harsh Winter Leaves Thousands of Potholes on New York City Roads

After a record-breaking winter with heavy snowfalls and freezing temperatures, New York City streets are now covered in potholes. City crews are working to repair them, but the winter's impact could be even more severe this spring, according to Gothamist.

City streets are regularly subject to stress from vehicle traffic and snow chains on tires.

Constant freeze-thaw cycles and water penetration into the asphalt exacerbate the damage. After winter, drivers, trying go round pits, spend more time.

On average, it takes the city about two days to patch a pothole after a 311 call.

On the subject: 259 fines totaling $60,000: Top 10 speeding drivers in New York City

The Department of Transportation (DOT) reported that it repairs more than 170,000 potholes and maintains more than 1850 kilometers of lanes annually.

"After this historic winter, we are stepping up repairs across the city to ensure roads in every neighborhood are safe and smooth," said DOT spokesperson Mona Bruno.

The scale of the problem

So far this year, nearly 13,000 pothole complaints have been received. This is a 36% increase compared to the same period last year. The majority of complaints—more than 6000—came from Queens, followed by Brooklyn, Staten Island, Manhattan, and the Bronx.

Urban policy experts advise drivers Be especially careful during the spring thaw.

"Damage to streets and highways after a harsh winter often only becomes apparent when the snow begins to melt. That's when we see the worst of its effects," noted Owen Gutfreund, professor of urban policy and planning at Hunter College.

According to him, the situation could worsen, as frosts and snowfalls are possible in the coming months.

"The materials used to properly patch potholes and repair damaged surfaces require warm weather. These works are ineffective in subzero or near-zero temperatures. So, any temporary fixes installed now will be ineffective. We first need to see how bad the roads are—they could get worse—and then we can improve them," he explained.

Infrastructure issues

Improving infrastructure is especially urgent given the ongoing affordable housing crisis. More and more people are using public transportation, cycling, and walking.

"Cracks in asphalt can also appear on sidewalks, creating uneven or damaged areas. They become natural obstacles, similar to potholes," emphasized Michelle Dehm, digital communications coordinator at Transportation Alternatives, a nonprofit advocating for pedestrian rights.

The organization developed a comprehensive program of urban policy priorities for the Mamdani administration, in particular improving street conditions.

Gutfreund said the DOT is doing a "great job" of fixing potholes, but the agency is overwhelmed.

"We don't have the political will to spend as much on maintenance as we do on building new facilities. We're building infrastructure without considering maintenance costs. Funding for maintenance is minimal," he added.

Suggestions for improvement

Gutfreund proposes a continuous process of inspection and repair of all city streets, rather than just a crew dispatched after a pothole is reported. However, this is extremely labor-intensive and expensive.

Last year, the state invested $3,6 billion in improving transportation infrastructure.