For the first time in years, drivers are enjoying a smooth ride through the Upper State Road Business District in Tisbury, where the Dept. of Transportation (DOT) repaved most of the road in May.
The corridor had long been riddled with potholes, some more than a foot deep in recent weeks, often forcing drivers to swerve or risk damaging their vehicles.

In a letter to the DOT in March, MVC Transportation Program Manager Mike Mauro highlighted the risk to drivers, pedestrians, and vehicles, and urged swift action to repair the potholes.

“On multiple occasions, I have witnessed vehicles including tractor trailers swerving to avoid the potholes, leading to near head on collisions,” Mauro wrote on behalf of the MVC Joint Transportation Committee. “Most importantly, these potholes have not just caused damage to vehicles but have caused significant damage to the Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA) buses. These buses have been seen bottoming out in some places which has become a huge detriment not just to the fleet but to the overall service provided.”

The DOT responded by holding a meeting with town and MVC staff in March and developing a plan to repave the worst section of the road.

“Our team is aware of the pavement condition of State Road and the potholes that have developed,” David Mohler, Executive Director of the DOT Office of Transportation Planning, wrote in response to the JTC letter. “These issues can arise from factors such as weather conditions, heavy traffic, and the natural aging of pavement. That said, maintaining safe and reliable roadways is a priority for the Department.”

In coordination with the town, DOT workers repaved the stretch of road between Five Corners and Colonial Drive during several overnight shifts in mid-to-late May.