That jarring THUNK as you hit another pothole. The flinch as coffee splashes out of its cup.
It’s a rite of passage every spring in Omaha—pothole season.
These craters seem to appear overnight, leaving drivers to swerve, swear, and wonder if their suspension will survive another day. The damage they can inflict on our cars is no joke, either.
So how do these mini-hazards form? What can you do to dodge and report them? And what’s the city actually doing about it? Let’s break it down.
In This Post
Why Omaha Has a Pothole Problem
While Omaha’s pothole problems typically peak in spring, the seeds are planted all year long in several key ways:
Freeze-thaw cycles do most of the damage. Water seeps into cracks in the asphalt, then expands when it refreezes—cracking the road from the inside out. With Omaha temperatures regularly swinging above and below freezing from late winter through early spring, our streets take a beating.
Heavy snow adds insult to injury. The weight of plowed snow stresses road surfaces, and over time, the scrapes and cracks allow water seepage that leads to potholes.
Poor drainage accelerates the problem. Water pools on roads, seeping in and eroding material under the asphalt. Standing water speeds up the freeze-thaw process too.
Nebraska’s concrete has a unique enemy. Researchers have identified something called “alkali-silica reaction”—a chemical process between the silica in our region’s gravel and the alkite in Portland cement that causes concrete to essentially self-destruct over time. UNL engineering professor Jiong Hu has called it “cancer inside concrete.”
How Potholes Can Damage Your Vehicle
Hitting a pothole can deliver a knockout punch to your car. Common damage includes:
- Flat tires or dangerous blowouts
- Bent or warped wheels
- Knocked-out wheel alignment
- Jarred-loose or damaged suspension parts
Repairing a wheel alignment alone can cost $100 or more, and most other pothole-related problems are even pricier. Slowing down and staying alert can save you hundreds in repairs.
Pro tips from local mechanics:
- Stay out of the curb lane when possible—water drains toward the curb, causing more damage there
- Keep your high beams on when driving at night to spot potholes earlier
- If your steering wheel shakes or your car pulls left or right after hitting a pothole, get it checked out
- Most auto insurance policies will cover pothole damage—check yours
Report Potholes and Help Fix the Problem
Spotted a crater that needs attention? The City of Omaha makes it easy to report:
Online: Visit omahahotline.com and drop a pin on the map
By phone: Call the Mayor’s Hotline at 402-444-5555
By email: mayors_hotline@cityofomaha.org
The more details you provide—exact location, photos, size of the pothole—the faster crews can respond. Detailed reports can shave days off repair times. Officials ask that you report through official channels rather than social media, so requests get routed directly to the Street Maintenance Division.
What Omaha Is Doing About It
The good news: The city has stepped up its game significantly in recent years.
Year-round repairs now possible. As of January 2026, Omaha has year-round access to hot asphalt for the first time. This means faster, more durable pothole repairs even during winter months—a major improvement over the cold-patch temporary fixes of years past.
Major investment in streets. Following voter approval of a $200 million bond issue in 2020, the city created a dedicated Street Preservation Fund. Since then, more than 800 lane-miles of road have been resurfaced or replaced—roughly equal to driving from Omaha to Columbus, Ohio.
2025 by the numbers:
- $28.6 million budgeted for road repairs
- 41 repair and resurfacing projects
- 150 lane-miles addressed
- Only 832 potholes filled by March 2025—the second-lowest total this decade
For context, 2019 was catastrophic. After a frigid February, a quick thaw, and heavy rain leading up to the great March flood, Omaha Public Works repaired 31,493 potholes using more than 4,400 tons of asphalt. Recent milder winters have given crews a chance to catch up.
New Technologies That Could Smooth Our Ride
Several innovations show promise for longer-lasting fixes:
Infrared pothole repair uses targeted heat to soften and seamlessly blend asphalt patches into existing pavement. The thermal bond creates a more durable fix that stands up to traffic and weather.
Smart sensors embedded in pavement can detect cracks and moisture intrusion early, alerting crews before potholes fully form.
Advanced materials like flexible polymers and rubber compounds better resist freeze-thaw cycles. Omaha has experimented with adding recycled tires to asphalt mix for more flexible, durable patches.
Graphene-enhanced concrete is being researched as a potential “magic bullet”—though experts remain skeptical about the cost and scalability for now.
The Bottom Line
Potholes will always be part of life in Omaha—it’s the price we pay for Midwest winters. But between increased city investment, new year-round repair capabilities, and your reports helping crews find problems faster, we’re in better shape than we were a few years ago.
Stay alert out there, report what you see, and maybe avoid that curb lane.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take the city to fix a reported pothole? Currently, the average repair time from report to fix ranges from 8–10 days. High-traffic streets and intersections are prioritized first, with residential neighborhoods addressed as crews work through the backlog. Detailed reports with exact locations and photos help speed things up.
Can I get reimbursed for pothole damage to my car? You can file a claim with the City of Omaha, but approval isn’t guaranteed. The city evaluates claims based on whether they had prior notice of the pothole and reasonable time to repair it. Your best bet is usually your own auto insurance—most comprehensive policies cover pothole damage. Check with your insurer.
Who’s responsible for potholes on state highways vs. city streets? The City of Omaha handles city streets. For state highways and interstates (like I-80, I-480, or Highway 75), contact the Nebraska Department of Transportation at dot.nebraska.gov or call 402-471-4567.
Why do some potholes come back after being fixed? Temporary cold-patch repairs (the quick fixes used in winter) don’t bond as well as hot asphalt and often fail within weeks. Now that Omaha has year-round hot asphalt access, repairs should last longer. However, if the underlying road structure is damaged, potholes may keep recurring until that section is fully resurfaced.
When is pothole season in Omaha? Peak pothole season runs from late February through April, when freeze-thaw cycles are most frequent. However, potholes can form year-round. The worst recent year was 2019, when crews filled over 31,000 potholes after a brutal winter and spring flooding.
Are there areas of Omaha with worse pothole problems? Older neighborhoods with aging infrastructure tend to have more issues. Streets with heavy truck traffic, poor drainage, or lots of utility cuts also deteriorate faster. The curb lane on any street typically has more potholes because that’s where water collects.
Can I fix a pothole myself? Technically, no—it’s illegal to perform repairs on public roads without authorization. If there’s a dangerous pothole on your street, report it through official channels. For potholes on private property (like your driveway or parking lot), you can purchase cold-patch asphalt at hardware stores for temporary DIY repairs.
