The jolt is sudden and unavoidable — a loud thud as tires slam into another cratered stretch of pavement. Across Long Island, from the Nassau County–Queens border to the East End, drivers say pothole season has arrived early — and it’s taking a toll on both their vehicles and their wallets.
After asking News 12 followers on social media to share trouble spots in their neighborhoods, responses poured in. Photos and videos revealed icy and gaping holes scattered across major roadways and quiet side streets alike.
One viewer sent an image of a pothole on a side street in New Hyde Park. Another highlighted a large cavity along Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown. Drivers traveling on Sunrise Highway near Center Moriches say that stretch could use significant repair work.
Additional reports came in from a side street in Holtsville and along Route 110 in Huntington Station. One commenter summed up the widespread frustration: “Ummm they’re literally everywhere.”
Officials point to winter weather as the culprit. In a statement, Brookhaven Highway Superintendent Daniel Losquadro said recent temperature swings have led to repeated freeze-thaw cycles, creating ideal conditions for potholes to form.
Umberto Mignardi, spokesperson for the Town of North Hempstead, noted that snowstorms — along with salting and plowing operations — inevitably strain road surfaces.
And according to Joseph Morrissey, spokesperson for the New York State Department of Transportation, Long Island’s heavily traveled highways combined with severe weather and repeated freeze-thaw cycles have accelerated pothole development across the region.
Drivers whose vehicles are damaged may be eligible for reimbursement through the state Department of Transportation — but only if the incident occurs between May 1 and Nov. 15.