Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan has announced a new partnership with Erie County that will use hot patching to help repair potholes on city roads.
Starting Monday, city and county crews will deploy hot asphalt to repair potholes across Buffalo, with plans to operate one to two days per week.
According to Ryan, the city has not used hot patches for more than 20 years, opting instead to use cold patches.
“The City of Buffalo has been stuck in a cycle of temporary fixes for years, and nowhere is it more visible than our roads and potholes,” Ryan said. “This partnership with Erie County allows us to bring in the right equipment, train our workforce, and finally start fixing potholes the right way. “
“The hot patch lasts longer,” Ryan explained. “It’s a fix, not just a temporary fix. It’s more durable, long, longer lasting.”
Mayor Sean Ryan is announcing a new partnership with Erie County that will use hot patching to help repair potholes throughout the city. Starting today city-county crews will use hot asphalt to repair potholes @SPECNews1BUF pic.twitter.com/QW4t3gBK7F
— Halena Sepulveda (@HalenaSepulveda) April 27, 2026
Ryan said the city looks forward to learning from the county as implementation of hot patching begins Monday.
“Partnerships in government are important,” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said. “We are more than happy for the Erie County Department of Public Works to provide knowledge and insight to their colleagues with the City of Buffalo DPW on the best practices for pothole repair.”
Ryan said that the city is exploring the purchase of its own hot patching equipment, including an asphalt recycler to further expand capacity in the future. The city of Buffalo will supply the materials for the repairs.