Hazardous potholes leave drivers deflated

For years, crumbling roads have been the norm in parts of West Riverdale, with one brutally battered stretch costing drivers hundreds of dollars a month.

The heavily trafficked corridor of West 254th Street, between Riverdale Avenue and Railroad Terrace leads to rows of single-family homes, Salanter Akiba Riverdale (SAR) Academy’s lower school and the Riverdale Metro-North station by the Hudson River. Riddled with deep potholes and cracks, the road is in dire need of repair and residents say they are fed up.

“It’s atrocious, just utterly atrocious,” Chris said, who has lived off West 254th Street for more than a decade and asked that his last name not be used for fear of retribution from the Department of Transportation. “You have to swerve into the oncoming lane just to avoid wiping out your tire.”

Traffic on the narrow two-way street includes passenger cars and Hudson Rail Link shuttles, along with SAR school buses during the morning and afternoon rush. Longtime residents said the road has always been rough and a 2008 article in The Riverdale Press spotlighted what it called a “half-hearted” repaving job on the same stretch.

His family learned to memorize the worst potholes -- including one so intense that a neighbor lodged a large rock inside it to warn unsuspecting drivers.

The Press measured two of the most severe potholes on the roadway. One was about 27 inches across and more than two inches deep. The one marked by the rock spanned nearly two feet at its widest and plunged roughly six inches.

On May 15, Chris’ son Will was behind the wheel of the family’s Tesla Model 3, navigating the familiar routine of swerving around dips and cracks in the pavement on the way home. Less than a minute away from his destination, despite his best efforts, the front driver’s side tire blew out.

When a tow truck arrived more than an hour later, students were still pouring out of SAR’s gates. As the Tesla was hoisted onto a flatbed, a yellow school bus turned onto the street and was suddenly stuck, blocking both lanes. Traffic backed up in both directions. With some maneuvering, the jam eventually cleared -- but not without a wait.

At the Mavis Discount Tire at 5760 Broadway, Will and his mother were told the car could go home that day -- a relief and a luxury they were not given the last time around. The other three tires were in bad shape too and needed to be replaced, resulting in a $1,527. \96 bill. Tack on the cost of computerized wheel balancing and alignment, as well as taxes and fees, and it was nearly $2,000.

This year, Chris’ family replaced eight tires across their two vehicles. Three other families on or near the same stretch told The Press they’ve each replaced at least three tires since January.

 “I’ve called 311 several times,” Henry Pollack said, who lives nearby. “There was a community board meeting where we all raised our concerns. But nothing’s really been done.”

Pollack’s wife recently came home with two blown tires. Days later, a third gave out. Fortunately, the couple has tire protection through AAA.

Luckily, relief may be on the horizon -- but it won’t come soon. Before potholes can be repaired, sidewalk infrastructure needs to be addressed. 

West 254th Streets presents a danger for the many students and parents who walk the road daily. In 2021, the city’s Department of Design and Construction (DDC) submitted a proposal for a Northwest Bronx School Safety Improvements project after they were prompted by advocacy from SAR, Community Board 8 and others. 

If approved, the project would bring walkways to both sides of the street. In 2023, temporary improvements were installed, including flexible delineators and granite blocks, along one side of the roadway, offering some separation from oncoming traffic, but it’s not a sidewalk. Accessibility remains limited, with no ADA compliance or accommodation for strollers.

Before any walkway can be built, Con Edison must relocate underground and overhead lines, including power cables and telephone wires. Afterward, the city’s Department of Environmental Protection will take over and replace the aging infrastructure beneath the street.

But it’s not only the roadway that’s timeworn – it’s what's underneath it, too. 

The water main, originally installed in 1920, has been untouched since its installation. At present, it contains cracks and other defects. The city’s plan includes separating the sewer systems, one sanitary and one storm, as well as placing catch basins along the roadway. 

“We try to be as proactive as possible to, you know, replace the water main before there's a water main break,” Maria Centeno explained, DDC director of community outreach. “We're talking about the early 19th century here, so it's old.”

Because both the utility and DEP projects require tearing up the roadway, the city won’t repave it until that work is finished.

The original timeline projected construction to begin in fall 2025, but late last year, it was pushed back to fall 2027 -- and the date is still subject to change.

Ultimately, residents can expect new sidewalks ranging from five to eight feet wide that meet ADA standards, including ramps at crossings. Only after that will road work begin to deliver the smooth, safe ride residents deserve.

The Department of Transportation has not responded to requests for comment.