Erie County, N.Y. (WBEN) - As the warmer weather starts to approach the Western New York area entering into spring, highway crews are getting out to combat and contain a never-ending obstacle all drivers face: the pothole.
Now that the snow and freezing conditions are dissipating, this is the time that Erie County and all encompassing cities and towns gear up to take advantage of these warm and dry days ahead.
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"At this time, we get geared up to get out there and fill a lot of the potholes," said Karen Hoak, Erie County's Deputy Commissioner of Highways.
"We have our complaint lines, which usually notifies us of where the potholes are located. Those complaints come in through our pothole line at potholes@eire.gov, sometimes we receive them through phone call, or they get directed to our five maintenance districts.
The potholes are usually filled within 24 hours. Our crews are usually out patrolling daily, they're still at the time of the season where they're using cold patch material. And then as plants open up, those potholes will be filled with hot asphalt."
"We do have a crew that periodically goes out patrolling our town and in the different zones that we have set up," said Clarence Highway Superintendent Jamie Dussing.
"But we take phone calls, emails, we have something set up through our website where you can just click a button and it comes right to the office to report the area or the street that needs attention. If it's a town road, obviously, we take care of that. If it's a county road, we'll pass that on. If it's State Road, we'll pass them to the DOT."
Hoak says weather plays a factor and will expect the workload this year to increase.
"Up until this year, I'd say we saw a reduction. Just given some of the investments in our roadwork and sustained temperatures. This year with the extreme water that we saw, we're going to be seeing a lot more potholes, we'll probably be receiving more complaints as we enter springtime, and likely be using more material to address those areas."
Dussing concurs. 'The weather is a factor, the drier, the better. Obviously, you know the potholes are caused by that classic freeze thaw cycle we get in Western New York, especially this time of year when we have wild swings in temperature."
You can also report vehicle damage due to potholes. Documentation is the best way to receive potential compensation. If you see a pothole that is part of Erie County jurisdiction, you can email potholes@eriecounty.gov or call 716-858-7966.
A new study from AAA finds nearly 2 in 10 drivers had to get their vehicle repaired after hitting a pothole last year. In total, an estimated 44 million drivers experienced pothole damage significant enough to require repair in 2022, up from 28 million in 2021, a 57 percent increase.
AAA is advising you to check your tires regularly. Everything from pressure, tread, suspension and alignment as well as continue to be a cautious and diligent driver. The more alert you are, the more likely you'll spot those potholes.