Okay, Hudson Valley — Time to Do Something About the Potholes

At first, I thought it was a Poughkeepsie thing. I recently moved from Connecticut for work, and I couldn't help but notice, as I was being jostled around in my car, that "these streets are in rough shape!" It's almost like riding on cobblestones in some places. My car really doesn’t enjoy it either.

It's Not Just Poughkeepsie

As I started to venture out and about in the Hudson Valley, I noticed that potholes are a problem almost everywhere. Now, I will say that the more major routes are in better shape than the secondary and tertiary roads, with some exceptions. The rural roads that are less traveled seem to be in fair to moderate condition, but generally speaking, it seems the well-traveled streets of bigger towns and cities are in the worst shape.

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The Weather’s Rough on Roads

I know that the weather is tough on the Valley's roads, but rough roads are rough on the wallet. According to a 2023 annual report by a national transportation research group, New York’s crumbling roads and potholes cost the state’s drivers $8.7 billion in repairs, fuel, and wear and tear, with the average cost of a repair being over $700.

What Can We Do?

Post your pothole problems on social media and tag your officials. In New York, you can report potholes to the Department of Transportation (DOT). Call 1-800-POTHOLE (1-800-768-4653) to report potholes on state highways. This line is available 24/7. You can also report potholes to your county government. Or, just complain about it and do nothing.