State says 178,000 North Country potholes filled so far in 2026

New York state crews and contractors have filled more than 1 million potholes on state roads so far this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Oct. 22. The state says 178,000 of those repairs were made in the North Country.

The work has used about 39,500 tons of asphalt statewide, Hochul said. The state marked the millionth repair with a New York State Department of Transportation maintenance team near the Meadowbrook Parkway in Hempstead the weekend before the announcement.

The repair effort began April 6 after what the state described as one of the coldest winters in recent memory. Crews filled more than 250,000 potholes in April alone, exceeding an initial goal of about 175,000.

Calls to the state's pothole hotline also increased. The state recorded 5,322 calls from Jan. 1 through April 15, 2026, compared with 2,263 during the same period in 2025.

North Country road work

NYSDOT Region 7 covers the North Country. The state's 2026 paving program includes routes such as State Route 11 in the Village of Malone, State Route 11 from Gouverneur to the Jefferson County line and State Route 3 in the City of Watertown.

The state paving list includes 28 North Country projects totaling $35.4 million. Statewide, the 2026 paving program includes more than $600 million for more than 180 projects.

The reported North Country total includes roads serving communities in and around Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, as well as routes used by Fort Drum-area residents, Thousand Islands travelers and Tug Hill communities.

How to report a pothole

Motorists outside New York City can report potholes on state-owned highways by calling 1-800-POTHOLE, or 1-800-768-4653. Reports for county, town, city, village or private roads should be directed to the agency or owner responsible for that road, such as a town highway or public works department.

Updates on regional road work are available through NYSDOT Region 7 and the state's pothole reporting program.