NEW JERSEY — The New Jersey Department of Transportation will begin its annual statewide pothole repair campaign on Monday, March 16, with crews working to fix road damage caused by winter weather across the state.
Officials said motorists should expect moving operations and occasional daytime lane closures while crews repair potholes on state highways over the next several weeks.
“Winter is tough on our roads. That’s why our crews are working quickly to repair them,” Governor Mikie Sherrill said. “New Jersey drivers deserve safe, smooth roads, and this campaign is about fixing problems fast to keep people moving and our economy flowing.”
Potholes often develop when water seeps into cracks in pavement and expands as it freezes. With temperatures fluctuating above and below freezing during a more active winter this year, transportation officials expect to repair more potholes than last season.
“The New Jersey Department of Transportation is beginning our annual pothole campaign on Monday, March 16. Over the next couple of months our priority will be repairing potholes formed this winter,” Acting Commissioner Priya Jain said. “NJDOT crews work year-round to repair potholes and keep our highways in good condition, but at this time of year, it becomes our primary focus.”
To address the damage efficiently, NJDOT will allow work crews to temporarily close travel lanes during daytime hours when needed. When possible, crews will schedule work between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to avoid peak commuting times.
Variable message signs will be used to notify drivers of pothole repair operations and potential lane closures. Current repair locations will also be updated regularly on the state’s traffic information website, 511nj.org.
As weather conditions improve and asphalt plants reopen, NJDOT crews will begin permanent patch repairs on more severely damaged sections of roadway. Those repairs typically involve milling and repaving small areas and are often performed overnight.
Over the past five fiscal years, the department has repaired an average of about 155,000 potholes annually. Officials say that number has declined in recent years as more roads have been repaved, increasing the percentage of state highways rated in good or fair condition from 47% in 2008 to 81% today.
So far in the current fiscal year, which began July 1, 2025, NJDOT has repaired about 89,100 potholes, with the busiest part of the repair season still ahead.
Officials also reminded motorists to slow down in work zones and follow New Jersey’s Move Over law, which requires drivers to move over or slow down when approaching emergency or service vehicles stopped on the roadside.
Drivers can report potholes on state highways by calling 1-800-POTHOLE (1-800-768-4653) or by submitting a report through the mapping tool on the NJDOT website. Potholes on county or local roads should be reported to the appropriate local jurisdiction.
