How long do pothole repairs last? It depends on the material that’s used
Crews have been dispatched to patch potholes before they cause damage to vehicles. Yet in some cases, the repairs are proving temporary.
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Pothole repair season is officially underway across Long Island, with town, county and state crews working to fill road hazards left behind by winter weather. But as some drivers are discovering, not every repair holds up the same way — and the type of material used can make a big difference in how long the fix lasts.
Crews have been dispatched to patch potholes before they cause damage to vehicles. Yet in some cases, the repairs are proving temporary.
In Levittown, several large potholes were filled by Town of Hempstead crews on March 2 using cold patch asphalt. When News 12 returned to the area one week later, the potholes had already reappeared.
Not all pothole repairs use the same material. In the Town of Islip, road crews were recently seen filling a pothole with hot asphalt patch — a more durable material typically used for longer-lasting repairs.
“Hot material is the only thing that you really have a chance to stay in the hole,” said Tom Owens, the town’s Public Works commissioner. “It’s good material. It’s better material.”
After News 12 reached out about the Levittown potholes, Town of Hempstead crews returned to the location Monday to repair them again — this time using hot asphalt.
A Town of Hempstead spokesperson attributed the surge in potholes to what officials described as a historically severe winter storm season. Town leaders say crews remain committed to repairing potholes as quickly as possible.
