Rockland Roads See Huge Increase in Potholes Recently

If it seems like we've been down this road before, that's because we have; with the advent of winter comes the inevitable proliferation of potholes.

"It's like driving through an obstacle course around here once winter hits," Dovid A. shares with Rockland Daily. 

With the freezing temperatures come potholes, a product of regular wear and tear on the road, which only worsens in the winter. That is because as the roads crack and water leaks into the cracks and then freezes and thaws over and over, the roads deteriorate even further. 

Other factors, such as the weight of the vehicles on the road, the age of the road, and other weather conditions, all play a role in how fast the roads deteriorate, causing potholes to abound. Not only are potholes dangerous to drivers because they can damage the tires, rims, and axles of vehicles, but they also cause drivers to swerve into the other lane, increasing the potential for accidents, making winter roads a much more dangerous path to maneuver across than during the rest of the year. 

"We work to patch the potholes as quickly as we can to alleviate headaches," Ramapo Superintendent of Highways Fred Brinn shares with Rockland Daily. "We typically have three to four crews out like we do today. We've been doing it over the last two weeks since the weather enabled us to go out and do work on a large scale."

The best thing a resident can do is to report any potholes they find. Reporting can be complicated given that it is hard to know if the road is under the jurisdiction of the Rockland County Highway Department or the Town of Ramapo Highway Department.  State Routes such as Routes 59, 202, 45, and 306 are under another jurisdiction as well, as the New York State Department of Transportation takes care of those.

Yet, as fast as the highway department works to fill in the potholes, vehicles are still getting damaged every day.

"If a driver wants to submit a claim for a vehicle damaged on a town road," Brinn shares, "all claims must first go to the town clerk. The first question the town clerk then asks us is if we were previouly notified of the pothole. If we weren't notified, then, by law, we are not responsible for reimbursement damage, and the claim will be denied. 

By calling to submit a report, even if it's the wrong highway department for that road, the message will be forwarded to the right department as all of the departments share reports.

To report any issue with a road, residents can call the Town of Ramapo Highway Department at 845-357-0903 or email the Highway  Department at [email protected] to report any issues. To reach the Rockland County Highway Department, call 845-638-5060 or click here to complete a service request. 

"We care about the health and well-being of all our residents," says Brinn,  "and try our best to address everything that comes up promptly. We are more than happy to accept criticism and compliments."