A Homegrown Solution to LA's Worst Roads. Why Is the City Looking the Other Way?
A Homegrown Solution to LA's Worst Roads. Why Is the City Looking the Other Way?
The recent series of powerful storms has left more than just a trail of stunning waterfalls and snow-capped mountains in Southern California. For the drivers of Los Angeles, it has left a jarring, teeth-rattling, and costly legacy: a seemingly endless landscape of potholes. News outlets like KTLA have been inundated with stories of frustrated drivers, and for good reason.
Despite the tireless efforts of city crews, the problem persists, leading to a crucial question that echoes across the city's sprawling freeways and boulevards: are we fixing our roads, or just patching them up for the next storm? [1]
The Vicious Cycle of Repair and Repeat
The frustration of Angelenos is palpable. As one KTLA report highlighted,
“Drivers told Spillman they have not noticed significant improvements despite the city’s repair efforts, raising concerns about whether Los Angeles has enough funding and staffing to keep streets maintained.” [2]
This sentiment is not an indictment of the hardworking city crews, but rather a reflection of a flawed system. The traditional methods of pothole repair, while necessary, are often a temporary fix. The constant barrage of traffic and the inevitable return of rain and moisture means that these patches are doomed to fail, creating a costly and disruptive cycle of repair and repeat.
Mayor Karen Bass has acknowledged the strain on the city's infrastructure, stating that
“For us who have lived in drought for so many years now, it seems as though we are having rain every month. With that comes a deterioration in our streets. After decades and decades of not investing in our infrastructure.”
[3] While the city has surged resources, filling over 10,000 potholes this year, the fundamental problem remains: the patches themselves are not designed for long-term durability. [4]
Taking the Message to the Top: Our Post to LA's Leaders
Recognizing the urgency, we recently took the conversation directly to city leadership. In a LinkedIn post where we tagged Mayor Karen Bass’s team, we laid out a clear and actionable solution. Here’s what we said:
To the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, as you and your team work with StreetsLA crews and encourage resident reporting through MyLA311, we'd like to highlight a solution worth considering that aligns with your commitment to durable, cost-effective infrastructure improvements: American Road Patch.
Why this matters: Potholes aren’t just a nuisance; they degrade quickly when exposed to water infiltration and heavy traffic, which is exactly the type of challenge LA’s roads are facing post-storm.
Solution overview: American Road Patch uses a patented peel-and-seal technology that creates a watertight bond and reinforced seal on repaired pavement, significantly extending the lifespan of the repair and reducing repeat fixes. This means less disruption, lower long-term maintenance costs, and better outcomes for motorists and city budgets.
If there’s an opportunity to explore innovative materials and methods to complement LA’s pothole patching efforts, especially ones proven to withstand diverse weather and heavy use, we welcome the chance to connect further.
Together, we can help keep Angelenos moving safely and smoothly.
View and COMMENT on our LinkedIn Post attempting to reach Major Karen Bass's team here>>
Why Has Los Angeles Ignored a Proven, Homegrown Solution?
Herein lies a perplexing question. American Road Patch was developed right here in Southern California. The city of Los Angeles was one of the very first municipalities to witness its effectiveness through numerous demonstrations. These demonstrations were not fleeting successes; the patches lasted for years, proving their durability and cost-effectiveness. Yet, despite this overwhelming evidence, the city has, for years, declined to adopt this transformative, money-saving product. One can only speculate as to the reasons behind this reluctance, but for the frustrated drivers of Los Angeles, the question remains: why is a proven, locally-developed solution being ignored?
The Unquestionable Proof: Engineered for the Real World
The data is undeniable. For anyone questioning the durability and effectiveness of American Road Patch, the evidence is clear, comprehensive, and confirmed by the industry's most respected authorities. This isn't just a patch; it's a feat of engineering, rigorously tested to withstand the most punishing conditions imaginable.
Proven Through Extreme Testing: Our claims are founded on hard data from world-renowned testing facilities.
NCAT Accelerated Loading: The National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) subjected our patch to an astonishing 1.3 million Equivalent Single Axle Loads (ESALs). The result? It endured, proving its capacity to withstand extreme, long-term heavy traffic that would pulverize lesser materials.
NCAT Friction Test: Safety is paramount. The same NCAT testing confirmed that American Road Patch maintains safe friction levels (averaging 0.4), ensuring that vehicle control and safety are never compromised.
BBA HAPAS Certification: We went across the pond to earn the British Board of Agrément (BBA) Highway Authorities Product Approval Scheme (HAPAS) certification, a benchmark for quality in the UK. Our product passed every test for impermeability, strength, and durability, verifying its performance by a leading international authority.
Demonstrated in Real-World Conditions: From bustling airport taxiways pounded by 80,000-pound trucks to city streets in Thousand Oaks, California (and even international applications in the UK, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Australia, and more), our field case studies tell a consistent story: American Road Patch lasts. We have documented patches enduring for over eight years all over the world, surviving everything from relentless snowplow scraping in Minnesota, intense heat and traffic of Los Angeles, and even world-record-breaking floods in Malaysia.
This is more than a product; it's peace of mind, sealed and delivered. It's the confidence of knowing that a repair made today will still be performing years from now, saving time, money, and endless frustration.
The Road Forward: A Simple, Lasting Solution
American Road Patch is not a replacement for the hard work your crews are already doing. It is a final, crucial step that ensures their work lasts.
By simply adding our patented peel-and-seal patch over a fresh repair, you are creating a permanent, waterproof seal that will stand the test of time. It’s a simple, cost-effective way to break the endless cycle of repair and repeat.
We urge the City of Los Angeles to reconsider the evidence and embrace a solution that was born in its own backyard. Let's work together to create a future where our roads are not a constant source of frustration and expense, but a smooth and reliable foundation for a thriving city.
Website:
www.americanroadpatch.com
Contact:
https://americanroadpatch.com/contact-us
References
[1] KTLA. (2026, February 20). Potholes across Los Angeles frustrate drivers; Mayor Bass to join repair efforts.
[2] KTLA. (2026, February 20). Potholes across Los Angeles frustrate drivers; Mayor Bass to join repair efforts.
[3] Yahoo News. (2026, February 22). Los Angeles steps up pothole repairs after back-to-back storms.
[4] Office of Mayor Karen Bass. (2026, February 21). City Crews At Work: Mayor Bass Announces Surge in Resources to Fill Potholes Citywide.
