Amherst, N.Y. (WBEN) - Ray Berry just cringes when he begins talking about a stretch of Maple Road in Amherst.
"This is the worst," Berry said.
Berry is referring to a mile-long stretch of Maple Road - running from North Forest Road to the east and Millersport Highway to the west.
In a region filled with weather-related potholes, the pothole-laden Maple Road is considered one of the worst roads.
And, its epicenter - or ground zero - is a 10-yard-long bridge over Ellicott Creek that is filled with potholes.
Drivers like Berry have had damage done to their tires and front end alignment.
"When I drive my (motorcycle) bike, it's almost better to go off the road and ride on the grass," Berry said.
Bob Davis, Amherst Republican Party chairman and whose office is along that stretch of Maple Road, doesn't mince words about the street's condition.
"It's worse than the streets of Tehran," Davis said.
Amherst Supervisor Shawn Lavin said the pothole problem is two-fold.
First, it was harsh winter with lots of snow and cold.
"The winter was grueling," Lavin said.
Second, until the weather consistently warms up - like 50 degrees for a cluster of days, not just one day here and one day there - it doesn't make sense to hot patch the potholes because it won't last.
"It ends up being a waste of time and resources," Lavin said.
Lavin knows all about Maple Road as he drives it daily. Maple Road is maintained by Erie County - not the Town of Amherst.
"Look, I'm just as frustrated as everyone else," Lavin said.