How Cedar Rapids drivers can report potholes as spring thaw creates road hazards

As rising temperatures and melting snow open up familiar craters in local asphalt, Cedar Rapids officials are directing residents to digital reporting tools to help track street damage.

Street maintenance crews are operating three shifts to address repair requests, which have recently averaged 15 to 20 calls per day. Cedar Rapids street operations manager Mike Duffy noted that crews must use temporary cold mix asphalt transported in 'hot box' trucks because permanent concrete repairs cannot be performed in freezing weather.

The annual damage is driven by trapped moisture. According to city maintenance data, melting snow seeps into existing cracks in the pavement, expands when it refreezes overnight, and shatters under the weight of passing vehicle traffic.

Drivers navigating local streets will also encounter larger construction zones this season. Public Works Director Brenna Fall said the city has launched nearly 60 spring street projects under the Paving for Progress initiative, which includes the 12th Avenue SE Rail Crossing and Pavement Improvements.

For routine maintenance, Cedar Rapids maintains several intake channels for residents. Potholes on city streets can be reported online through the MyCR tool, via email at street@cedar-rapids.org, or directly through the City Mobile App.

Motorists encountering road damage on interstates, state highways, or numbered routes must direct those reports to the Iowa Department of Transportation, as city crews do not service those corridors. Each year, municipal street teams fill more than 170,000 potholes, seal 110 miles of cracks, and complete dozens of spot repairs across the city.