Milwaukee city workers have been working overtime and on weekends to patch potholes in what is shaping up to be a record year for that type of work. But for many residents, the patching is not enough.
The city’s Department of Public Works has received more than 18,000 requests for pothole service so far in 2026. Workers have already filled more than 10,000 potholes this year — right around what the city has averaged annually over the past five years.
Following a winter marked by repeated freeze-thaw cycles and a spring that brought additional weather-related challenges, city officials held a news conference Thursday with an update on the situation.
Raneissa Baker, a driver on Milwaukee’s north side, said her car is currently in the shop with suspension damage she says will cost her $1,100 — the result of the sheer number of potholes she has hit this year, not any single one.
“Streets are horrible, and every time that you hit a pothole, all you hear, doo doo doo doo doo,” Baker said…