After one of the harshest winters in recent memory left roads battered across New York, state officials are rolling out an aggressive, statewide effort to repair damage and restore driving conditions.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday that more than 200 Department of Transportation crews will fan out across the state this month to fill an estimated 175,000 potholes, marking what officials described as an unprecedented push to address deteriorating roadways.
The effort comes as paving season officially begins, with crews shifting from months of snow and ice response to what state leaders say will be one of the most ambitious road construction programs in New York history.
State transportation officials said 215 crews will place more than 8,000 tons of asphalt in April alone, with plans to repair hundreds of thousands more potholes as weather conditions improve. The initiative follows a winter marked by prolonged cold, heavy snowfall, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles that accelerate pavement damage.
Beyond short-term repairs, the state is pairing the pothole blitz with a broader resurfacing strategy that includes more than 180 paving projects totaling over 2,000 lane miles. Combined with existing projects, officials say more than 4,000 lane miles of roadway will be resurfaced this year.
In the Finger Lakes region, projects include 67 lane miles of work on Interstate 490 spanning Gates, Chili, Riga, and Bergen, as well as more than 30 lane miles along Route 104 between Rochester and Irondequoit.
State leaders say the scale of the work is backed by significant investment, including more than $600 million dedicated to paving projects this construction season and additional funding tied to the state’s five-year capital plan.
Local and regional officials pointed to the direct impact on safety and reliability, particularly after a winter that left many roadways riddled with hazards. Crews have already filled more than 28,000 potholes since mid-February, laying down over 1,400 tons of asphalt during that early response period.
Additional major projects are underway or set to begin across the state, including upgrades to key highways in Western New York, the Capital Region, Central New York, and downstate areas. Work ranges from resurfacing and lane reconfigurations to drainage improvements and sidewalk upgrades aimed at improving overall roadway safety.
On the Thruway system, officials said more than $600 million in construction contracts are planned for 2026, part of a broader $2.8 billion capital plan that will fund bridge repairs and resurface roughly 60 percent of the highway network over the next five years.
Transportation officials are urging drivers to remain alert for work zones as construction ramps up statewide, warning that crews will be active on highways in nearly every region in the coming weeks.
Motorists can report potholes on state roads by calling 1-800-POTHOLE, while issues on local roads must be directed to the appropriate municipality.
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