Jurisdiction confusion stalls repairs as potholes plague Riverdale-Kingsbridge streets

Residents in the Riverdale-Kingsbridge area filed nearly 1,000 requests to 311 to address potholes, cave-ins and rough, pitted or cracked roads in the last year. Only a few of these requests are still open cases, but residents’ concerns persist. 

A pothole generally starts with surface cracks in the road, and is worsened by water and traffic, causing it to deteriorate further. During New York City winters, the chance of potholes forming is increased by high traffic, ice, snow and freeze-and-thaw patterns.

Of the 311 cases reported in the last year, about 70 percent were potholes. 

During pothole season — from December to June — the department of transportation dispatches up to 75 pothole crews daily throughout all boroughs. Once made aware of a pothole, the DOT responds as promptly as it can, though officials said it prioritizes safety concerns. 

For example, crosswalks, holes in front of schools or religious institutions, and damage that causes vehicles to swerve are given top priority, according to a spokesperson for the department. 

Potholes are typically shallow in comparison to cave-ins. A cave-in is a deep, empty space with no solid bottom underneath the roadway surface. They are also known as sinkholes. Cave-ins are often caused by infrastructure failures, such as a damaged pipeline underground. Meaning, it is not considered in the DOT’s jurisdiction and is referred to the city department of environmental protection.

The city is especially vulnerable to potholes and cave-ins due to climate change, dense traffic — both above ground and underground — and roughly 7,000 miles of water mains that are susceptible to defects. 

About 14 percent of all cases were referred to the city DEP. While seemingly a small percentage, almost half the key problem areas visible on the graph attached to this story included multiple requests to DEP. These include: West 231st Street and Fairfield Avenue, West 232nd Street and Riverdale Avenue, Greystone Avenue, Hillman Avenue, West 225th Street and Exterior Street, Manhattan College Parkway and Delafield Avenue, and West 260th Street and Liebig Avenue. 

The city DEP did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Not pictured in the graph is 252nd Street, as requests spanned Sycamore Avenue, Henry Hudson Parkway, Arlington Avenue and more. 

“It’s really tough to walk because the sides of the roads are so eroded, it almost becomes a one-lane road at times,” Ilana Weinstein, who walks her dog down 252nd Street most mornings, told The Press. 

At times, Weinstein said, she’s seen cars get stuck on this stretch, since the back wheels are unable to get traction from even ground.

Weinstein said she filed a 311 request and was told by the DOT the roads were private. This was confirmed by a spokesperson for the department, who said it does not have ownership of West 252nd Street between Sycamore Avenue and the Henry Hudson Parkway. 

But it is not clear if this means the responsibility to maintain the roads fall under ownership of the Riverdale Historic District — which runs from West 252nd Street and Independence Avenue, extending north to West 254st Street and south to Riverdale Park. 

This is also something to consider with the Fieldston Historic District, which encompasses roughly West 242nd Street north toward West 252nd Street, and east of Delafield Avenue to Tibbett Avenue. This area is owned and controlled by the Fieldston Property Owners Association, and potential work on the streets must be approved by the association.

A spokesperson for the Landmarks Preservation Committee said it does not regulate the condition of either historical district, as the streets are not considered to be significant features. 

Kelsey Osgood, a resident who lives nearby West 247th Street and Arlington — the site of many pothole and cave-in requests to 311 — said community lore suggests street quality is based on jurisdictional disagreements.

“The reason that the roads are so bad, in most cases, is because the city thinks the streets are private, but the streets think that they’re not private,” Osgood said, “So nobody wants to pony up, nobody wants to pay.” 

Osgood said she has two sinkholes in her backyard, though noted that is private property, and she is in discussion with her homeowners association. 

Another key problem area is Tibbett Avenue outside of In-Tech Academy. 

“You have to weave side-to-side trying not to hit one of the deeper [potholes],” Yvonne Rivera, a social worker employed on the Kennedy Campus, said, “It’s a nightmare.” 

Rivera said the potholes are rarely filled. And if they are filled, it’s only about two or three as opposed to the dozens requiring attention. Concerns about Tibbett Avenue go back nearly a decade, she said. 

At one point, she contacted Councilman Eric Dinowitz’s office. Though some potholes were subsequently repaired, Rivera said, the road needs to be completely resurfaced. 

A DOT spokesperson said Tibbett Avenue is not in its jurisdiction. Community Board 8 confirmed Tibbett Avenue is under the jurisdiction of the School Construction Authority, which will present how it plans to address the road to the board later this year.