New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Acting Commissioner Astrid C. Glynn and New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael R. Fleischer Wednesday reminded motorists to report potholes on the state’s highway system by contacting 1-800-POTHOLE (1-800-768-4653).
The service is available across upstate New York.
We are committed to enhancing the mobility of New York’s motorists by
constantly working to provide safe, efficient and reliable trips
through preventive maintenance and repair, Acting Commissioner Glynn
said. `By utilizing 1-800-POTHOLE, motorists can help us locate and
repair potholes caused by winter conditions quickly and efficiently to
maintain smooth and safe conditions on our roadways.`
Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael R. Fleischer said, `The
1-800-POTHOLE hotline is a statewide initiative that enhances the
delivery of services on the Thruway System, therefore, the Authority
is glad to participate in this program again this year as part of its
efforts to improve the customers’ experience on the highways.`
Motorists may call 1-800-POTHOLE (1-800-768-4653) to report potholes
on any State-owned highway, including the Thruway, except in New York
City, where motorists may report potholes by dialing 311. Potholes on
county or town roads, city and village streets, or private roadways
should be reported to the appropriate owner.
Calls received by the hotline are directed to the closest NYSDOT or
Thruway Authority maintenance facility, from which a maintenance crew
will be dispatched as soon as weather conditions and other factors
permit.
Individuals calling the hotline will be asked to provide detailed
information regarding the location of the pothole, including: the name
of the community or county, state route number or interstate; closest
reference marker number; closest exit number; the direction of travel
and the nearest landmark or crossroad. People who report potholes and
want to be notified of their repair should leave their names and
addresses for follow up. Motorists reporting potholes from cell phones
are reminded either to use hands-free units when calling or safely
stop their vehicles and call.
Potholes are formed primarily due to infiltration of water into
pavements through cracks in the surface. Cold weather causes the water
to freeze, creating a bulge in the pavement. When the temperature
warms above freezing, the pavement surface returns to its original
level. Subsequent freeze-thaw cycles weaken the pavement material and
a pothole forms. The process repeats itself during subsequent
freeze-thaw cycles and potholes become worse and more numerous. Heavy
traffic also contributes to the creation of new potholes and the
worsening of existing ones.
NYSDOT and the Thruway Authority employ aggressive preventive
maintenance practices designed to seal pavements and prevent the
seepage of water. NYSDOT estimates these highly efficient, cost
effective practices save New York State more than $1 billion annually
in avoided highway rehabilitation projects.
To fill potholes during the winter, NYSDOT and the Thruway Authority
use high performance asphalt cold patch mixtures that are formulated
specifically for this purpose; more permanent pavement repairs are
made during the construction season. These cold patch mixes have been
tested and proven to be the most effective solution for winter pothole
patching by the National Research Council’s Strategic Highway Research
Program, a comprehensive research effort directed by federal and state
transportation officials.
Because NYSDOT and Authority maintenance crews periodically repair
highway damage throughout the State, motorists are asked to slow down
and pay special attention to work zones. Fines are doubled for
speeding in a work zone, and, in accordance with the Work Zone Safety
Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work
zone could result in the suspension of the driver’s license.“