Mon, Apr 27th 2026 04:25 pm<\/p>\n
Submitted by the City of Buffalo Office of the Mayor<\/p>\n
Mayor Sean Ryan\u00a0announced\u00a0the beginning of\u00a0a new partnership between the City of Buffalo and Erie County to expand pothole repair efforts using hot patching to provide a more durable, longer-lasting method of fixing roadways\u00a0than the cold patching traditionally done by the\u00a0city.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The initiative\u00a0leverages\u00a0a strong working relationship between the\u00a0City of Buffalo and Erie County, with Erie County\u2019s Harlem District providing specialized equipment and experienced staff to train a team of workers from the City of Buffalo\u2019s Engineering Division.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe City of Buffalo has been stuck in a cycle of temporary fixes\u00a0for years, and nowhere is it more visible than\u00a0our roads and potholes,\u201d Ryan said. \u201cThis partnership with Erie County allows us to bring in the right equipment, train our workforce, and\u00a0finally\u00a0start fixing potholes the right way.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beginning today, joint city-county crews will deploy hot asphalt to repair potholes across Buffalo, with plans to\u00a0operate\u00a0one to two days per week while the city builds\u00a0capacity to complete hot patching by itself. The City of Buffalo will supply the materials for the repairs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPartnerships in government are important,\u201d Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said.\u00a0\u201cWe 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. I applaud Mayor Ryan and his team for their commitment to reinvesting, upgrading and improving how they deliver basic services to city residents and others who visit Buffalo.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
This effort is part of a broader strategy to reinvest in\u00a0Buffalo\u2019s\u00a0Department of Public Works, modernize operations, and fix the basics for Buffalo residents. The city is also exploring the purchase of its own hot patching equipment, including an asphalt recycler to further expand capacity in the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n
During this partnership, hot patching will be\u00a0reserved\u00a0for potholes with larger surface areas or those\u00a0requiring\u00a0more durable repairs, while smaller or temporary fixes may still be addressed with traditional cold patching methods. This targeted approach allows crews to maximize impact while improving long-term road conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The\u00a0city\u00a0is also improving how pothole repairs are tracked and reported. Moving forward, 311 service requests will only be closed after confirmation that a pothole has been filled, ensuring greater accountability and more\u00a0accurate\u00a0reporting for residents. Buffalo residents are encouraged to continue reporting potholes through 311<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n