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Potholes Wreak Havoc This Time of Year. But are Municipal Leaders the Real Problem?

  • Writer: American Road Patch
    American Road Patch
  • Mar 27
  • 3 min read

Preface: To our esteemed municipal partners: Thank you for being pioneers and champions of innovation by adopting American Road Patch. This article is not directed at you, but rather addresses concerns from other municipalities that have yet to embrace such advancements. We greatly appreciate your proactive approach and hope this piece encourages more leaders to adopt your forward-thinking mentality.


This time of year is recognized by many as pothole season—and for good reason. The freeze-thaw cycle wreaks havoc on our roads, and unfortunately, things won’t get better until cities change the way they approach repairs.



The Financial Toll

The impact on drivers is staggering. A 2023 AAA study, “Potholes Pack a Punch,” found that pothole-related vehicle damage costs Americans about $400 per car, totaling $28 billion annually—a massive jump from $3 billion just a decade ago.

For cities, repairs aren’t cheap either. Fixing a single pothole can cost $35 to $50, not including mobilization costs that often range from $100 to $150 per crew. In 2024 alone, the City of Chicago reported filling 143,000 potholes—an overwhelming and unsustainable burden on local budgets.



The Real Fix for Real Roads

While futuristic materials and smart-road technologies are being explored for new infrastructure, the reality is that most roads in use today are old—and the last thing cities want to do is tear them up and start over. Full replacement can cost $1 million per mile, making it a budget-breaking option that's often postponed or avoided altogether.

That’s where American Road Patch shines.


Rather than opting for band-aid solutions that degrade in months, American Road Patch offers a high-performance alternative. Its geoengineered grid reinforcement combined with peel-and-seal technology forms a lasting bond over the repair. This isn’t just a surface patch—it actively strengthens the road and shields the repair from further water intrusion, freezing, and erosion.


Tested and proven across the U.S. and Europe, American Road Patch is built to last for years, even under extreme weather and heavy traffic. So why are municipal leaders slow to adopt this? Keep reading to find out.



Designed for the Roads We Already Have

Innovative technologies like self-healing concrete and sensor-embedded pavement are exciting, but they’re years away from large-scale implementation. Meanwhile, the roads we all depend on are crumbling now.


American Road Patch fills this gap with a practical, scalable solution that works with existing infrastructure—giving cities the power to extend road life without the cost of replacement.

It’s why more municipalities are switching from short-term fixes to durable, data-backed repair strategies.  



Let’s Patch Smarter

The pothole problem isn’t going anywhere. But our approach to fixing it can evolve.

With American Road Patch, cities don’t just patch—they protect. They invest in infrastructure that lasts, reduces recurring costs, and keeps drivers safer on the road.

When the choice is between doing the same old thing or implementing a proven, long-lasting solution, the answer is clear.


The REAL Roadblock (Municipal Leaders)

Although many municipalities across the U.S. and Europe are adopting American Road Patch as their official “last step” in road repair—to seal in the fix and extend its life for years—there’s a surprising problem:


We’re being told it works "too well."


Yes, really. Some (not all!!) city officials have pushed back, saying that American Road Patch performs too effectively—making it an uphill battle to get widespread adoption. But isn't the goal of public service to better serve the people? To keep roads safe and budgets used wisely?


Why, then, are so many still intentionally choosing repairs that are bound to fail?


It’s a sad reality—and one we’re striving to change. Tax-paying citizens deserve safe roads fixed with proven, long-lasting solutions.


And for those concerned about “running out of work,” we say this: there is no shortage of infrastructure that needs attention. When potholes are fixed properly the first time, crews can move on to the next critical project. There is no lack of need—only a need for smarter prioritization.


We believe in a future where road work means progress, not patchwork. Let’s stop settling for temporary and start demanding lasting.


Patch once. Protect for years. Choose American Road Patch.





 
 
 

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