Yonkers takes on winter road damage with $5M paving plan
The city's Department of Public Works crews began milling on Inwood Street, part of a $5 million resurfacing program expected to cover 50 roadway sections between now and September.
More Stories
After spending months filling thousands of potholes, Yonkers has shifted into road resurfacing season, launching a $5 million effort to improve 50 roadway sections across the city before the end of summer.
On Inwood Street, the process began with the roar of milling machines grinding away worn-out asphalt. The work may look straightforward, but officials say there is a lot more involved than simply laying down a fresh layer of pavement.
Crews first mill and remove the damaged roadway, haul away tons of old asphalt, thoroughly clean the surface and measure the area before approximately 30 tons of new asphalt can be installed.
“This block is narrow, so we’ll try our best,” said Yonkers Department of Public Works (DPW) employee Zeyad Marjiah as crews maneuvered equipment through the residential street.
The resurfacing project comes after a winter that took a heavy toll on local roads. Freeze-thaw cycles and snowstorms created potholes and accelerated wear on streets throughout the city.
According to Yonkers DPW officials, the lifespan of a newly paved road depends on several factors, including traffic volume, weather conditions and the quality of paving materials.
“Busy streets like Tuckahoe Road that we did last year don’t look the same because of the heavy traffic and winter conditions,” said Tom Drago of the Yonkers DPW. “Then there are streets we did three or four years ago that still look like we paved them yesterday.”
The city spent approximately $4 million on paving projects in 2025. That investment has increased to $5 million this year as officials continue efforts to improve road conditions citywide.
While Yonkers DPW crews handle smaller resurfacing projects, large-scale repaving operations are typically awarded to private contractors with specialized paving equipment capable of completing entire streets in a single day.
For Marjiah and his fellow workers, the long days of paving are about more than asphalt.
“What do I enjoy most about doing this? Helping the city out, making the city clean. We try to do our best,” he said.
City officials expect resurfacing work to continue throughout the summer, bringing smoother rides to drivers across Yonkers after a winter that left many roads worse for wear.
