Hi everyone! I live on a private road with public access in suburban Massachusetts, and we're dealing with some nasty potholes—I've counted 3-4 of them, with the biggest being around 50 inches wide and 6 inches deep. The street gets plowed in winter, but I'm not sure how repairs work since it's technically a private road. I submitted a request to the city for help today, but I'm worried that might take ages to address. Is it worth considering a quick fix with quickcrete? Should I mix my own concrete? What do you all suggest for a good, lasting solution?
3 Answers
Just a heads up—if you’re planning on patching asphalt, don’t use concrete for that. Stick with asphalt patching material, which is cheaper. If you can, gather your neighbors to discuss pooling resources for longer-term repairs, like repaving. It might be more affordable than you think!
I’d recommend buying some fast-set concrete or asphalt patching material. It’s a quick fix that should last longer than just regular asphalt solutions. Renting a mixer or using buckets to mix is easy enough, and the patches will likely hold up better than the surrounding road surface.
It sounds like you and your neighbors might be responsible for the road repairs since it’s private. If your neighbors have put down some sand and gravel before, maybe rallying everyone to chip in for a more permanent solution would be best. That way, you're all in it together!
Exactly! In some private roads I've lived on, we've started a small association where everyone pays dues for maintenance. It helps keep the road in decent condition without anyone feeling burdensome about the costs.
That’s a great point! We did something similar on our lane—got everyone together and it was surprisingly economical. Plus, it really improved our quality of life.