Potholes Ravage Road Between New Stanton, Irwin

TribLive reported on May 18 that drivers in Westmoreland County are singling out Arona Road as one of the roughest stretches in the region this spring, with motorists describing potholes, patched sections and uneven pavement between New Stanton and Irwin. The road is state-maintained, placing repairs under the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation rather than local municipalities, TribLive reported. PennDOT crews across Westmoreland County have been filling potholes through the late winter and spring, while larger paving and construction work moves through bidding and planning stages, according to PennDOT and local news reports. The complaints on Arona Road fit a broader pattern across Western Pennsylvania after repeated freeze-thaw swings, road crews and drivers told local outlets. ### Which stretch of Arona Road are drivers complaining about? Arona Road runs through Hempfield and connects the New Stanton and Irwin areas, roughly paralleling the Pennsylvania Turnpike between the Irwin and New Stanton interchanges, according to prior TribLive reporting. TribLive’s May 18 report identified Arona Road as a state-maintained highway used by commuters traveling through that corridor. (triblive.com) Alyssa Shawley of Champion, who drives Arona Road to her job in North Huntingdon, told TribLive that the route has been “a rougher ride than usual this spring.” She said crews “tried cutting spots out and repaving, then decided to tar and chip over them,” and added that the replaced sections were worse than some of the earlier holes. (triblive.com) ### What are drivers saying the road is doing to their vehicles? Shawley told TribLive that “that road is so uneven your car needs an alignment after driving down it.” Her account was one of several reader complaints gathered by the outlet about potholes on busy roads in Westmoreland and neighboring counties. PennDOT District 12 assistant county maintenance manager Duane Wright told WPXI in February that potholes can lead to reports of vehicle damage and can push drivers into dangerous maneuvers. “They’re putting their lives in danger because of the potholes on the road,” Wright said, describing why crews go out on warmer days to make repairs. (triblive.com) ### Why are the repairs temporary in some places? PennDOT crews use cold patch material during winter and early spring because weather conditions can prevent a permanent asphalt repair, Wright told WPXI on February 19. He said new potholes can reopen or form again after another round of snow or freezing temperatures, forcing crews to return and repeat the work. (wpxi.com) The freeze-thaw cycle is a recurring cause of pothole damage across Western Pennsylvania, according to TribLive’s regional reporting. Greensburg streets superintendent Thomas Bell told the outlet, “This really does seem like ‘The Year of the Pothole,’” adding that his department had used more cold patching material than in the previous two years. (wpxi.com) ### Who is responsible for fixing Arona Road? PennDOT is responsible for state-owned roads that pass through multiple communities, TribLive reported, and Arona Road falls into that category. That distinction matters because drivers often complain to borough or city officials about roads those local governments do not maintain. (triblive.com) Duane Wright told WPXI that PennDOT District 12 has about 20 crews in Westmoreland County filling potholes. He said the district spends about $2.8 million a year on patching work, using more than 1,900 tons of asphalt and more than 37,000 employee work hours. ### Are larger Westmoreland County road projects also in motion? (triblive.com) PennDOT’s Westmoreland County project map for 2026 shows current and planned construction work across the county, and the agency’s “Projects Near You” page directs residents to District 12 listings for active and proposed work. TribLive also reported that paving on a heavily damaged Route 66 section in Westmoreland had been advertised for bids, showing that some larger resurfacing work is moving beyond short-term patching. (wpxi.com) TribLive reported in 2025 that PennDOT planned base repairs on Arona Road in Hempfield during one week of scheduled county work. That earlier listing does not establish a full resurfacing timetable for the corridor between New Stanton and Irwin, but it does show Arona Road has already been on PennDOT’s repair schedule. (pa.gov) ### Where can drivers report the next pothole? PennDOT told drivers to report potholes on state-owned roads by calling 1-800-FIX-ROAD or through the agency’s online customer-care system, with the county, municipality, route or street name and nearby landmarks. PennDOT’s District 12 project pages and county construction maps remain the agency’s public source for updates on active and planned work in Westmoreland County. (wpxi.com) (triblive.com)