Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez Celebrate DOT Crews Filling Administration's 500,000th Pothole, Investments In Street Repaving and Record-Setting Pothole Resolution Times

January 29, 2025

With Administration’s Strong, Sustained Investment in Street Repaving, Potholes Are Now Forming at Less Than Half the Average of Previous Two Administrations Combined

New Pothole Complaints to 311 Are Addressed in Under Two Days on Average, More Than a Day Faster Than Average During de Blasio Administration and More Than Twice as Fast as During Bloomberg Administration

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today celebrated the filling of administration’s 500,000th pothole in Prospect Heights and highlighted the record-setting speed at which the city has filled potholes over the last three years. New pothole complaints to 311 are closed in an average of approximately 1.8 days — more than a full day faster than the de Blasio administration’s average of 3.4 days and more than twice as fast as Bloomberg administration’s average of 4.4 days. In the three years of the Adams administration, the city has received and resolved 88,466 pothole complaints made to 311; by this same point in the de Blasio administration, the city had to resolve 147,640 complaints. This decrease in potholes comes as a result of the Adams administration’s sustained commitment to better and more regular repaving. DOT has repaved an average of nearly 1,200 miles of lane miles in each fiscal year of the Adams administration.

“When hard-working New Yorkers pay their taxes, they expect their government to deliver for them,” said Mayor Adams. “And whether it’s generational projects like Willets Point or the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, or the fundamentals like picking up the trash and filling potholes, we’re doing all that, better than ever. We’re filling potholes more than twice as fast as the average time of the two previous administrations combined — and thanks to our commitment to paving, there are significantly fewer potholes forming in the first place. However, cold weather potholes do sometimes happen. That is why we are so grateful to the crews working hard to make sure they get filled fast. If you see them out in the field, give them room to do their important work.” 

“When a driver or cyclist hits a pothole, it is not only a cause for frustration, but it can also be a safety hazard,” said DOT Commissioner Rodriguez. “I am proud that pothole requests are on the decline thanks to smart investments we have made in better and more regular paving. Mayor Adams has given our incredible roadways crews the necessary resources to keep our roadways much smoother and safer.”

Potholes are generally caused by water and rock salt seeping into asphalt and are worsened during New York City winters by several factors, including high traffic, ice, snow, and other precipitation. Freeze-and-thaw weather patterns can further exacerbate these conditions, increasing the likelihood of potholes. During pothole season — which generally runs from December through June — DOT dispatches 25 to 75 separate pothole crews daily. The crews work in all five boroughs, responding to 311 complaints and requests from local stakeholders.

DOT produces asphalt at its two plants for both resurfacing roads and filling potholes. While the average pothole uses only a few pounds of asphalt, a completely repaved lane-mile uses 1,000 tons. This fall, DOT announced that it is testing a new asphalt mix containing 50 percent recycled pavement. The new mix will reduce fossil fuel use, save money, and cut down on the amount of used roadway pavement sent to landfills. Nationally, most asphalt mixes are made of 20 percent recycled materials.

New Yorkers who see potholes are urged to report them to 311 or online.

“Today we make historic progress in tackling our city’s potholes. We have filled half a million potholes in half the time it used to take, and through proactive paving of 1,200 miles of lanes we cut in half the number of potholes needing filling,” said New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar. “This is a testament to Mayor Adams’ and Commissioner Rodriguez’s commitment to addressing all of New Yorkers’ quality of life concerns. Filling potholes is also a sound fiscal investment that pays dividends: the average motorist will save $880 dollars per year in repairs, putting more money in their pockets to pay for necessities, and the city will save up to $23 million per year in settlements for damaged vehicles and pedestrian injuries. Through this work, we are paving the way for road safety for everyone.”