If you\u2019ve driven anywhere around Central New York lately, you already know.\u00a0Pothole season hit hard this year.<\/p>\n
From dodging craters on your morning commute to wondering if your tire is going to survive I-81, it\u2019s been\u2026 a\u00a0season.<\/p>\n
Now, New York says help is officially on the way.<\/p>\n
A Massive Statewide Push to Fix Potholes<\/p>\n
Governor Kathy Hochul announced what\u2019s being called an unprecedented effort to fix roads across New York after one of the harshest winters in recent memory.<\/p>\n
New York will deploy 215 DOT crews to fill 175,000 potholes this month.\u00a0The state says hundreds of thousands more potholes will be filled as the weather improves.<\/p>\n
Why Central New York Roads Took Such a Hit<\/p>\n
If it feels worse than usual, you\u2019re not imagining it. This winter brought extreme cold with heaving snow and constant freeze-thaw cycles.\u00a0That combination is basically a recipe for destroying roads.<\/p>\n
Read More:\u00a0Pet Owners Can Donate Fur to Help Clean Up Oil Spills<\/a><\/p>\n Water seeps into cracks, freezes, expands, and then melts… over and over again… until the pavement gives out.\u00a0Add traffic on top of that, and suddenly you\u2019ve got potholes everywhere.<\/p>\n Where You\u2019ll See Repairs Around Central New York<\/p>\n The state has already identified key areas in Central New York for pothole repairs and paving work, including:<\/p>\n Route 298 in Lyncourt and SalinaUS-11 in Cicero and North Syracuse<\/p>\n And that\u2019s just potholes.<\/p>\n Major paving projects are also underway or starting soon across the region:<\/p>\n Route 5 bypass in CamillusI-81 from Syracuse to MattydaleI-81 and I-481 in Onondaga CountyMultiple routes through Ithaca (Routes 13, 34, 96, 79, and 89)<\/p>\n Other major paving projects starting in the next few weeks include:<\/p>\n Central New York:<\/p>\n 28 lane miles on the Route 5 bypass from Old Route 5 to Route 695 in the Town of Camillus, Onondaga County.5.9 lane miles on I-81 from the Syracuse City Line to Mattydale.12.6 miles in the City of Ithaca on portions of Routes 13, 34, 96, 79 and 89.2.5 lane miles on State Route 370 in Onondaga County.20 lane miles on portions of I-81 and I-481 in Onondaga County.<\/p>\n Mohawk Valley:<\/p>\n 28 lane miles on I-88 from the Otsego County line to just east of Exit 20 in the town and village of Richmondville, Schoharie County.23 lane miles on State Route 365 in Oneida County.11.9 lane miles on State Route 167 from Route 5 to the Dolgeville Village Line.3 lane miles on State Route 5 in Palatine Bridge.<\/p>\n Capital Region:\u00a0<\/p>\n 113 lane miles from Western Avenue to Exit 11 on the Adirondack Northway in Albany and Saratoga Counties.23 lane miles on I-90 from Exit 1 (87 Split) to Exit 5A (Corp Woods Blvd)2.4 lane miles on Route 385 in AthensWhat You Can Do If You Spot a Pothole<\/p>\n Still seeing one that hasn\u2019t been fixed yet?\u00a0You can actually report it! Call 1-800-POTHOLE for state roads.\u00a0Just keep in mind that the state handles highways but local roads go through your town or city.<\/p>\n Drivers Rejoice: NY Launches Major Road Repairs <\/p>\n If your car has been personally victimized by Central New York potholes this year\u2026 relief is coming.<\/p>\n Between the massive pothole push and full-scale paving projects, the state is finally going all-in on fixing the damage from this brutal winter.<\/p>\n Now we just have to survive the construction season!<\/p>\n Take New York’s Most Scenic Spring Road Trip In 5 Days<\/p>\n Spring time is in full swing all across New York State. Take time to get out this season and explore. Maybe take an epic scenic road trip over the course of 5 days.<\/p>\n We decided to ask ChatGPT to get the most epic, most iconic, and most scenic Spring Road Trip across New York State.\u00a0Here’s what it suggested:<\/p>\n Gallery Credit: Dave Wheeler<\/a><\/p>\n Road Trip Through New York’s Ice Cream TrailDid you know there’s an ice cream trail here in the great state of New York? Yup. Created by\u00a0Only In Your State<\/a>, the trail takes\u00a0you all throughout the Adirondacks, allowing you to “take in the sights of our tallest mountains and some of the most breathtaking scenery in all of New York”\u00a0while licking your favorite kind of ice cream.<\/p>\n Hop aboard the New York Ice Cream Trail!<\/p>\n