KQED's Forum Our Roads are Full of Potholes. Why Are They So Hard to Fix?
Nov 10, 2025
Jose Formoso, a reporter for Oaklandside, dives into the city's persistent road safety issues exacerbated by deferred maintenance. Carla Short from San Francisco Public Works shares how strategic funding and capital planning have improved the city's pavement conditions. John Goodwin discusses the intricate mechanics of road deterioration and heavy vehicle impacts, while Doanh Nguyen addresses the complexities of maintaining state highways. The group debates innovative ways to enhance road quality and reduce commuter frustration.
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How Roads Actually Break Down
- Cracks let water reach the subbase and cause alligator cracking that weakens the pavement.
- Once the subbase fails, depressions and potholes form and the road can no longer support traffic.
Stop-Start Vehicles Multiply Road Stress
- Heavy vehicles that stop and start damage roads far more than passenger cars.
- Garbage trucks and frequent-stop delivery trucks create exponentially more pavement stress than SUVs.
Oakland's Long Pothole Struggle
- Oakland repaired roughly 53,000 potholes yet still scored poorly for decades.
- The city only started focused transportation planning in the mid-2010s after prolonged neglect.