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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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.
Costly Lawsuits From Bad Roads
- Oakland paid about $35 million over ten years in litigation for injuries caused by dangerous roads.
- Recent additional payouts added nearly $20 million in the last 18 months.
Why Oakland's Paving Ground To A Halt
- Oakland's paving stopped due to pandemic budget shortfalls, staffing and contracting bottlenecks, and a broken concrete mill.
- Those combined operational failures created months-long delays and halted new paving contracts.