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Some asphalt plants have been open through March and workers have already covered some of the worst areas, New Rochelle Commissioner of Public Works Alexander Tergis said.
When there is no snow on the ground during winter, crews do a general check on the roads and also try to fix problems that residents have complained about.
"When the plants are closed, if there are major potholes that are considered a safety hazard, they use what they call a cold patch, which is a temporary solution," he said. "As soon as plants open, they then focus on the bad areas throughout the city. They kind of go around and around in a circuit to try to knock out the biggest and deepest ones as fast as possible."
Potholes aren't just uncomfortable to hit -- they can knock wheels out of alignment and affect the steering. They can also dislodge wheels, damage tires and bend or break suspension, according to AAA.
Of the readers who took our survey on potholes, 67 percent said driving this winter has been unpleasant and the poor condition of the roads has hurt their tires.
"We have some serious ones here and there, but the number is probably no more than about 50 to 75 throughout the city that we have at least been made aware of between our staff and call-ins," Tergis said of the potholes. "And they've been prioritized, and we're working on them right now."
Typically, the most problematic potholes are on the main roads, and they are targeted first because of high traffic volume, Tergis said. Others are dealt with later. He mentioned that Pinebrook Boulevard, which DPW has been working on this week, and Eastchester Road as sustaining much wear and tear.
Commuter Bob Hopkins pointed out the same area in a comment on The New Rochelle Daily Voice Facebook page: “Yeah, I can drive all the way home from Lower Manhattan and not worry about driving on an obstacle course until I hit Beechmont and Pinebrook Blvd. … It’s a war zone there.”
Filling potholes is part of the Public Works' operating budget as it is a routine procedure every year.
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