Another vehicle repair is the last thing New Yorkers want on their to-do list. According to AAA, the average cost to repair pothole damage in 2023 was around $400. It's spring now and crews across the state are working on state, county and local roads filling potholes.

“The safety of the traveling public is always a top priority for DOT,” said TeNesha Murphy, public information officer for the state Transportation Department (DOT) Region 3.

What You Need To Know

  • According to NYSDOT, $30 million is spent annually to fill more than 1 million potholes across the state

  • NYSDOT partially relies on the public to know where potholes are

  • Potholes can be reported to 1-800-POT-HOLE

Even in rural areas, potholes are a concern due to wear and tear on the roads from regular traffic as well as farm equipment. One residency of DOT in Onondaga County has started using a piece of equipment that’s new to them: a spreader. It says it’s a big time-saver.

“So, this machine alleviating 45 minutes off a job helps us to get to some of the other potholes around the state faster. We are aggressively filling our potholes, especially after we're just coming off snow and ice season,” said Murphy.

Drivers can help DOT by calling 1-800-POT-HOLE when they see them along state roads. Even if the pothole you report isn’t on a state road, they can pass the information along to the correct people to get the problem solved.

According to DOT, $30 million is spent annually to fill more than 1 million potholes across the state.