Potholes on State Roads Cause Frustration and Flats

We asked and you answered: potholes are causing some frustrations out on the road.

Severe winter storms seem to have decimated certain roads, in particular state roads. Readers told us that Montauk Highway in Wainscott was the worst. In fact, the eastbound lane, right before the has huge craters straight across the lane.

Jennifer Chavez, one reader, said "It feels like my car is going to break apart when I drive there at night."

The person who answer the phone at Consumer Tires said they have seen an increase is customers coming in with flat tires and rims that need to be replaced.

Elisha Osborn, owner of Hammer Towing said, "I did get a call out to Buell Lane because some one got a flat from a pothole. But the worst area so far is that area between Sayres Path and Wainscott Northwest on Montauk Highway."

Eileen Peters, a spokeswoman for the State Department of Transportation, said that the state is aware of the problem and has actually been working to repair some of the potholes in certain areas. "Our NYSDOT maintenance crews have been repairing, and plan to continue to repair the worst areas as their priorities (such as clearing snow and ice) allow."

What's unfortunate is that the state completed a resurfacing project in certain areas of the town, including Wainscott, just this fall. Peters said, "New potholes have opened up on NY Route 27/Montauk Highway in the vicinity and on other State roads, due to the harsh winter weather."

East Hampton Town Highway Superintendent Scott King said on Friday that he is well aware of the problem areas on Montauk Highway and on Route 114, where a few readers also mentioned problems by the railroad tressle."I've been passing along the complaints to the state," he said.

However, according to the office of Assembylman Fred W. Theile Jr., I-Sag Harbor, reported only one complaint about the roads, and that was in Water Mill.

In East Hampton Village, Larry Cantwell said the department of public works agreed that complaints were mainly about state roads. "The village highway crew is out every day Cold Patching where the potholes exist on village roads." In late spring, he said they would work on more permanent repairs.

As for town roads, King said his crew has been out filling in potholes since the last storm. They have used about 8 tons so far of Cold Patch, he said.

He said there is a certain way to fill potholes that isn't as simple as just laying down Cold Patch. "You have to get the sand out of them, tortch to get the moisture out, compact the asphalt. There's a right way to getting it done."

One call he received was about a crater in front of 99 Cedar Street in East Hampton. He said it turned out to be from a water main installation where the road settled, and he has spoken to the Suffolk County Water Authority about the repairs.

"If motorists  see something and they want to call the highway department, please do," King said.

A state resurfacing project on Montauk Highway between Stephan Hands Path and Route 114 is schedule for 2012.