Pothole Patching

Pothole Patching in Saint Paul

The City of Saint Paul strives to provide safe and well-maintained streets. Taking care of potholes in a timely manner prolongs the useful life of streets and reduces future maintenance and rehabilitation costs. 

Public Works crews fill potholes year-round. Several pothole patching crews are sent out each day to repair main (arterial) and residential streets across the city. On average, a crew will hand shovel 15-20 tons of asphalt per day to improve street conditions.

In Cold Temperatures

In the winter, potholes are patched with a special type of asphalt called “winter mix.” Winter mix uses a softer, stickier asphalt that can be compacted into a hole even in below-freezing temperatures. Winter patches are temporary as the mix warms with the spring and summer temperatures and the material becomes too soft to stay in place.

In Warm Temperatures

In the spring, summer and fall, potholes are patched with “hot mix” asphalt - the same asphalt used to build new roads. Hot mix patches last anywhere from a year to several years. Hot mix is not available until late March or April, depending on weather conditions.

Watch a few short videos to learn how potholes form, as well as WCCO's "Good Question" (2023) about pothole patching and "What is the difference between Hot and Cold Mix?"

Watch Good Question Video: Pothole Patching

See how potholes form

How to Report Potholes

• Call 651-266-9700
• Email potholes@ci.stpaul.mn.us

Public Works is currently pothole patching throughout the city. Public Works sends out pothole patching crews daily to repair main (arterial) and residential streets across the city. 

The 2024-2025 winter season was mild. This spring, crews are doing systematic route patching, which means they are driving all streets in Saint Paul, one section at a time, and proactively patching what is needed. 

Crews are also responding to complaints. Supervisors are checking all complaints and will get them added to the patching lists.

Help Public Works Pothole Patch and Improve Your Street

Only report potholes on arterial (or main) streets at this time. Public Works is currently concentrating pothole patching efforts on residential streets. With the systematic route patching approach, please be patient as it might take crews longer to respond to patching complaints on residential streets, compared to previous years. Please use these tips to help Public Works crews to patch potholes and improve the pavement conditions on your street:

• Move vehicles. Please move any vehicles parked on the street when you see pothole patching crews in your neighborhood. The city will not be posting temporary “No Parking” signs.

• Do not push any materials, including leaves, grass, or debris into the street. Please properly bag and dispose of any leaves, dirt, and grass clippings. Residents can take materials to Ramsey County compost sites, use their residential yard waste services, or if the resident is part of the Citywide Garbage Service, they can put out compostable yard waste bags with their garbage service to be collected at $3 per bag.

• Do not put garbage or recycling carts in the street. Please make sure carts are only placed on the boulevard or driveway apron, not the street.

• Be patient. Public Works will not be able to provide residents with details or timelines about when specific streets will be patched, as the street conditions vary greatly across the city.

2023 Pothole Patching Summary

(December 15, 2023)

The 2022-2023 record-setting snow season, and the amount of snow and ice pack from rain and freeze-thaw cycles, did extensive damage to Saint Paul city streets. 

Saint Paul Public Works is pleased to share that as of Friday, December 15, staff completed “route patching” the entire city and responding to more than 3,800 pothole complaints this year. Crews spent more than two months of working overtime on Saturdays this fall to complete this essential work, which will improve the roads and protect them from more damage this winter. 

This is a huge accomplishment that was done by our very dedicated staff, during an extra busy summer season of road construction and regular street maintenance, including sweeping and mill and overlay operations.

In July, Mayor Carter and the City Council supported moving $2.55 million from Public Works seal coating efforts in one part of Saint Paul to improve the street pavement conditions across the entire city. The funds helped to put all available Public Works Street Maintenance staff and resources towards repairing, pothole patching, and skim paving all streets that were damaged by winter weather conditions.

Route patching is a more efficient, systematic approach to patching all city streets compared to responding to individual patching requests. Crews reviewed and patched all of Saint Paul’s streets. They also skim paved streets in areas that need more extensive work (e.g. Summit Avenue, Shepard Road, Davern Street). 

This process was slow and meticulous work for each and every street, and we thank our residents for their cooperation and patience as it may have felt like we weren’t responding to complaints as fast as we had in previous years. Because the potholes were so numerous, crews were following residential routes, patching arterials as needed, and not just responding to residential street complaints as they came in. 

Saint Paul Public Works pothole patches year-round. Crews continue to respond to pothole complaints and street issues all winter long. The City’s asphalt plant closed on December 15, 2023 so we are now using the “winter” asphalt mix.

Reporting Damages from Potholes

If you believe your vehicle was damaged due to a pothole, you can submit a claim form to the City Clerk's Office.

Please note that for claims the City must have received prior notice of the pothole/street defect and then failed to correct the defect in a reasonable period of time based on the available crews.