Locals frustrated by potholes on Auckland’s roads may soon see improvements, as Auckland Transport (AT) commits to addressing potholes on major roads within 24 hours of notification.

This new “pothole promise” has been welcomed by Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, who voiced strong support for the initiative and encouraged residents to report any delays in repairs.

“This is an excellent initiative. I am totally behind the ‘pothole promise’ and hope AT can deliver it.

I encourage Aucklanders to report potholes and also any instances where repairs are delayed,” said Mayor Brown.

According to AT’s Group Manager for Road Asset Maintenance and Renewals, Alan Wallace, over 3,600 potholes have already been repaired across the Auckland region this year.

“The pothole promise is to repair 95% of potholes within 24 hours of notification on our busiest roads,” Wallace said, adding that AT aims to keep pace with the NZ Transport Agency’s similar target for state highways.

The 24-hour response applies to AT’s arterial and regional roads, encompassing 1,400 km of high-traffic routes.

Other roads, comprising a larger network of over 7,000 km, will see repairs within five working days due to the sheer size of Auckland’s road system.

Explaining the causes of potholes, Wallace noted that high rainfall and water infiltration through road cracks can weaken the pavement, leading to holes under traffic loads.

New Zealand roads, generally made of granular pavement with a bitumen surface, are vulnerable to water damage if the top layer deteriorates.

Funding constraints and heavy traffic over the past decade have exacerbated wear and tear on the network.

However, an increase in road maintenance funding from the NZ Transport Agency and Auckland Council will allow AT to maintain and improve road quality across the region.

In the recent “Summer Road Reno” campaign, AT resurfaced 400 km of roads, a number expected to rise to over 500 km annually in the coming years.

“Potholes are a symptom of a larger problem, with an ageing network and a resurfacing backlog due to limited funding,” Wallace said.

“We can temporarily repair potholes, but long-term solutions require keeping roads waterproof to prevent recurrence.”

Residents are encouraged to report pothole locations through the AT website at at.govt.nz/potholepromise helping keep Auckland roads safer for all.