2023 Pothole Patching Summary
Last year’s record-setting snow season, and the amount of snow and ice pack from rain and freeze-thaw cycles, did extensive damage to Saint Paul city streets.
Saint Paul Public Works is pleased to share that as of Friday, December 15, staff completed “route patching” the entire city and responding to more than 3,800 pothole complaints this year. Crews spent more than two months of working overtime on Saturdays this fall to complete this essential work, which will improve the roads and protect them from more damage this winter.
This is a huge accomplishment that was done by our very dedicated staff, during an extra busy summer season of road construction and regular street maintenance, including sweeping and mill and overlay operations.
In July, Mayor Carter and the City Council supported moving $2.55 million from Public Works seal coating efforts in one part of Saint Paul to improve the street pavement conditions across the entire city. The funds helped to put all available Public Works Street Maintenance staff and resources towards repairing, pothole patching, and skim paving all streets that were damaged by winter weather conditions.
Route patching is a more efficient, systematic approach to patching all city streets compared to responding to individual patching requests. Crews reviewed and patched all of Saint Paul’s streets. They also skim paved streets in areas that need more extensive work (e.g. Summit Avenue, Shepard Road, Davern Street).
This process was slow and meticulous work for each and every street, and we thank our residents for their cooperation and patience as it may have felt like we weren’t responding to complaints as fast as we had in previous years. Because the potholes were so numerous, crews were following residential routes, patching arterials as needed, and not just responding to residential street complaints as they came in.
Saint Paul Public Works pothole patches year-round. Crews continue to respond to pothole complaints and street issues all winter long. The City’s asphalt plant closed on December 15, so we are now using the “winter” asphalt mix.