You’re driving down Latta Road, maybe heading toward the Wegmans on Long Pond, and suddenly you see it. A massive, jagged ridge in the middle of the pavement that wasn't there two hours ago. It looks like a tectonic plate shift in miniature.
Actually, it’s just Greece New York road buckling, and honestly, it’s becoming a bit of a summer tradition around here that nobody asked for.
Most people in Monroe County are used to the "pothole season" that arrives every March. But the heat-induced road "blow-up" is a different beast entirely. It’s violent. It’s fast. And if you hit one at 45 miles per hour, your suspension—and your coffee—are basically history.
Why the roads in Greece are literally exploding
It sounds dramatic, but "blow-up" is the technical term engineers use.
Basically, most of our major thoroughfares, like West Ridge Road or sections of the 390, are built using concrete slabs. When the Rochester humidity breaks and we hit those 90-degree stretches like we saw in late June of 2025, physics takes over. Concrete expands when it gets hot.
Normally, there are expansion joints—those little gaps filled with tar or rubber—that give the slabs room to grow. But over time, those gaps get filled with "incompressibles." That’s just a fancy word for the sand, salt, and grit we dump on the roads all winter.
When the slab tries to expand and there’s no room left because of the dirt, something has to give. The pressure builds up to thousands of pounds per square inch until the road literally snaps upward.
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It’s not just the heat, it’s the age
I was looking at some of the recent Monroe County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) reports, and the reality is that our infrastructure is just... tired.
A lot of the concrete sub-bases in the Town of Greece were laid down decades ago. While the town has been aggressive with the 2025 Concrete Repair and Replacement Program, you can’t outrun old age forever. Thomas Frys, the Director of Transportation for the county, has often pointed out that these issues are most common where new asphalt meets old concrete.
Think of it like this:
- Asphalt is flexible. It gets soft and "ruts" like play-dough in the sun.
- Concrete is rigid. It doesn't bend; it breaks.
When you have an asphalt overlay (which a lot of Greece side streets have) on top of old concrete slabs, the concrete underneath buckles and creates a "speed bump from hell" that tears right through the surface.
Greece New York Road Buckling: The "Danger Zones"
If you live here, you know the spots. The intersections of Latta and Long Pond or the stretch of West Ridge near the Mall are prime territory.
Why? Because heavy traffic makes it worse.
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When you have a 40-ton tractor-trailer vibrating a road that is already under extreme thermal stress, it acts like a trigger. One heavy bounce from a truck can be the final straw that causes a slab to pop.
In June 2025, during that massive heat dome that hit the Northeast, we saw multiple reports of this near the 390 exits. It wasn't just a Greece problem—Wisconsin reported over 50 buckles in a single weekend—but our local soil composition (lots of moisture-retaining clay) doesn't help. When the ground underneath is damp and the top is scorching, you get a "steaming" effect that can undermine the road base.
What to do when you see a buckle
Honestly, don't try to be a hero and "test" it. If you see a section of road that looks like it's tenting, treat it like a giant pothole.
- Slow down immediately. These ridges can be 6 to 12 inches high. That's enough to deploy an airbag if hit at the right angle.
- Report it. The Town of Greece and MCDOT actually respond pretty fast to these because they’re a massive liability. You can call the Monroe County DOT at 585-753-7700.
- Check your tires. If you’ve already hit one, check for "bubbles" in your sidewall. Road buckling is notorious for pinching tires against the rim and causing internal structural damage that leads to a blowout a week later.
The 2026 outlook for Greece drivers
We’re looking at a weird weather pattern this year.
With the 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Program in full swing, you’re going to see more "joint sealing" crews out this spring. It’s annoying to sit in traffic on Latta Road while they’re working, but that's what prevents the blow-ups. They’re essentially vacuuming out the winter grit and replacing the rubber seals so the road has room to breathe.
Pro-tip: If you see a crew "milling" a road—shaving off the top layer—and they leave it that way for a few days, be extra careful. That thinner surface is actually more prone to heat damage because it doesn't have the mass to resist the upward pressure from the slabs below.
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How to protect your car
It’s easy to blame the town, but sometimes the heat is just faster than the repair crews.
Most people don't realize that their insurance might cover damage from Greece New York road buckling under "comprehensive" or "collision" depending on your policy. If the road was clearly buckled and caused a bent rim, take a photo of the road and the damage immediately.
Keep an eye on the thermometer. When we hit three days of 90+ degrees, stay in the right lane on the highway. Buckles often happen in the fast lane because of how the road is pitched for drainage, and the right lane usually has a shoulder you can swerve into if a ridge suddenly appears in front of you.
Keep your distance from the car in front. If they suddenly swerve or jump, you need that two-second buffer to react before you're the one going airborne.
Final takeaways for the commute
- Watch the shadows: Sometimes the sun makes a buckle look like a flat shadow until you're right on top of it.
- Report, don't ignore: Use the Monroe County "Report a Road Issue" portal online. It works.
- Check the "seams": Be especially careful where the pavement changes color or texture; that's where the most stress lives.
Stay safe out there, and maybe take the back roads when the heat index hits triple digits. Your suspension will thank you.
Next Steps for Greece Residents:
- Save the MCDOT Dispatch number (585-753-7700) in your phone for immediate hazard reporting.
- Inspect your vehicle's suspension and alignment if you’ve recently traveled through heavy construction zones on West Ridge Road or Latta Road during peak heat.
- Monitor the Town of Greece social media pages for emergency road closure alerts during heat waves, as these are often updated faster than GPS navigation apps.