War on Potholes: Governor Hochul Fills the One Millionth Pothole on State Roads in 2026

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State DOT crews have exceeded 1 million potholes filled on New York State roads so far this year, providing smoother rides and enhanced safety for motorists in every region of the state. To mark the milestone, Governor Hochul joined a NYSDOT maintenance team near the Meadowbrook Parkway in Hempstead on Long Island last weekend to personally fill the state's one millionth pothole. The work was part of an unprecedented and ongoing effort by the New York State Department of Transportation to restore and repave thousands of lane miles of vital roadways across New York this year.

"Potholes can't run and they can't hide, and we are finding them and putting them out of everyone's misery," Governor Hochul said. "Last winter took a heavy toll on our roads, but it was no match for the dedication and professionalism of our highway crews, who stepped up to the challenge and provided New Yorkers with the quality roads they need and deserve. I am absolutely committed to giving New Yorkers smoother, pothole-free roads, and I was honored to do my part in turning a pothole into a not-hole with the DOT team."

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, "Thanks to Governor Hochul's leadership and her unyielding commitment to public safety, New Yorkers can enjoy thousands of miles of smoother roads and a million fewer potholes across New York State, this year alone. As soon as the snow stopped falling, our maintenance teams shifted into high gear and worked tirelessly to repair and renew our roads. I can't thank them enough for their dedication and willingness to work in often hazardous conditions next to high-speed traffic so that the rest of us can travel safely."

So far in 2026, NYSDOT maintenance workers and contractors have filled more than one million potholes, using more than 39,500 tons of asphalt. Potholes were filled in every region in the state, including:

• Capital Region - 75,000
• Mohawk Valley - 43,000
• Central N.Y. - 52,000
• Finger Lakes - 95,000
• Western N.Y. - 88,000
• Western Southern Tier - 42,000
• North Country - 178,000
• Hudson Valley - 150,000
• Southern Tier - 121,000
• Long Island - 156,000

The pothole filling was part of an unprecedented road repair effort that was announced by Governor Hochul in April, which resulted in more than 250,000 potholes filled across New York in that month alone. It is also supported by NYSDOT's historic road repaving program in 2026. Leveraging the $800 million that had been secured in the FY26 Enacted Budget to augment the final two years of its five-year Capital Plan, NYSDOT invested more than $600 million in more than 180 paving projects across the state to be completed in this paving season. These projects, which totaled almost 2,150 lane miles, were in addition to the paving initiatives already scheduled as part of NYSDOT's core programs and taken together, represented the most ambitious annual road resurfacing program in NYSDOT's history, totaling more than 4,000 lane miles of renewed pavement. It included such high-travel roadways as the Adirondack Northway, Northern State Parkway, Interstate 81, Interstate 490, Interstate 86 and the Cross Westchester Expressway.

Outside of New York City, motorists are urged to call 1-800-POTHOLE (1-800-768-4653) to report potholes on any State-owned highway, including the Thruway. In New York City, motorists can 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. 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.