Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn announced on March 13 a citywide effort to repair potholes following a winter with record snowfall and prolonged cold temperatures.
The initiative will begin at 6 a.m. this Saturday, when more than 80 Department of Transportation crews are scheduled to work across all five boroughs. The city expects to fill thousands of potholes in one day, with additional repair events planned for the coming weeks. This action comes as part of the city’s annual road resurfacing season, which starts this month and includes full curb-to-curb repaving projects.
Since January 1, the Department of Transportation has repaired over 50,000 potholes, maintaining an average response time of just over two days. In the past week alone, more than 10,000 potholes have been filled. The department plans to resurface 1,150 lane miles of roadway this year. New York City is among the few cities nationwide that operates its own asphalt plants, allowing for quick responses to road damage and efficient repairs.
“While most New Yorkers are still asleep, 80 DOT crews will take to the streets to repair potholes in a five-borough blitz,” said Mayor Mamdani. “In a single day, they’ll fill thousands of potholes that pop up every year as spring arrives and our city streets begin to thaw. Safe, accessible streets are a basic promise of city government, and after a historically brutal winter, I’m incredibly grateful to the DOT teams who are not wasting a moment of time in delivering the street improvements we need.”
Commissioner Flynn said: “New Yorkers have braved a rough winter, and we can see and feel the resulting potholes from wear-and-tear on our roads. That’s why the men and women of NYC DOT are doubling down on repair efforts in recent weeks and will step it up this weekend with a five-borough, 80-crew blitz. We appreciate New Yorkers’ patience on the roads as we complete this critical work and encourage the public to report road defects to 311.” Pothole season typically begins around spring due to high moisture levels from winter weather combined with cycles of freezing and thawing conditions.
Drivers should expect travel delays on Saturday while repairs take place. Residents are encouraged to report any potholes they encounter through NYC311 so they can be addressed promptly.
