Lewisboro Has Its Fill Of Potholes

LEWISBORO, N.Y. – Now that winter has had its opportunity to dig potholes in local roads, The Daily Voice asked Lewisboro residents where the worst potholes are.

Lewisboro residents complain about potholes on Route 123.
Photo Credit: *Katherine Pacchiana*

by Katherine Pacchiana

03/27/2013 12:01 a.m.

Amy Anne Schwartz said Conant Valley Road is in bad shape. Samantha Leff Dorf cited Route 123.

Gary Figler had several candidates: Todd Road, Mount Holly Road and Route 138.

"We keep banging away at them,” said Lewisboro Highway Superintendent Peter Ripperberger. “We go and fill them up whenever we can. Unfortunately, our staff is down nearly 50 percent from what we had three years ago, because of cutbacks.”

Ripperger pointed out that any road with a number is a state road. “We’re not responsible, and we have no control over it.”

According to the Department of Transportation, potholes are created in a number of ways. The most common way is when water seeps into cracks in the road surface. Vibrations of tires over the cracks causes the asphalt to fail, which is why there are more potholes after a rainy period. Potholes are an even greater problem in cold climates when the water freezes and thaws.

Another cause of potholes is the stress of trucks and buses, which can cause movement in the subsurface of the paving. Once a weak spot develops, every vehicle that travels over it worsens the problem.

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