Recent rain has exposed worsening potholes and cracked pavement across San Diego, where city crews are working to repair some of the most deteriorated streets. In Rancho Bernardo, one stretch of road is finally getting major improvements after nearly four decades. “San Diegans are very clea r, they want us to fix the damn roads,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “One way we can do that is have in-house teams, [made of] city employees doing the work themselves.” The mayor joined other city department leaders at a press conference on Friday morning on Bernardo Oaks Drive. The road running through a neighborhood leading to the Rancho Bernardo Inn has not had major improvements since 1987. San Diegans are very clear, they want us to fix the damn roads.Mayor Todd Gloria, City of San Diego That year, Ronald Reagan was president and the national average price of regular unleaded gasoline was 91 cents per gallon. Mayor Gloria said using city employees to complete the work instead of hiring more expensive outside contractors helps San Diego make better use of taxpayer money. The workers are part of three dedicated paving and reconstruction teams from the city’s transportation and public works departments following the Mill and Pave program. Since 2023, the teams have improved nearly 75 miles of streets affected by severe potholes and cracks. Rancho Bernardo residents welcome long-awaited repairs For 10-year-old Jacob Javonillo, the road repairs are happening right outside his home. Javonillo and his family live along Bernardo Oaks Drive, where he has watched crews work to improve the damaged pavement. “There was a lot of big chunks of concrete. There was one time they tried to fix the road, but that didn’t really work,” he said. The repairs come as wet weather continues to expose problems on streets throughout San Diego. Rainwater can seep into cracks and potholes, worsening pavement damage and creating hazardous conditions for drivers. Across the city, motorists are navigating damaged roads that can lead to costly vehicle repairs and potential accidents. Jacob Javonillo, 10, stands in his front yard on Bernardo Oaks Drive, Friday. He’s watched all week as city crews resurfaced the street, October 23, 2026. Drivers call for faster pothole repairs in San Diego While the city’s dedicated repair teams have made progress, drivers have mixed opinions about whether the improvements are happening quickly enough. Sharon Harris believes the city needs to accelerate its road maintenance efforts to protect motorists. “The city should do more to push out repairs. That’s because you can drive, hit a pothole, and cause an accident,” Harris said. Driver Gaby Miles acknowledged the slow pace of improvements but said the work represents progress. “It’s slow, but if nothing changes, nothing changes. So, some change is good change,” she said. San Diego targets more than 30 miles of road improvements The city’s milling and paving teams are scheduled to complete more than 30 miles of road improvements by the end of the fiscal year on June 30. For people living on Bernardo Oaks Drive, the new pavement offers hope that years of deteriorating pavement will soon be behind them. You can check the city’s online road improvement updates to find out whether your neighborhood is included in upcoming projects. San Diego’s Chief Operating Officer, Bethany Bezak, speaks at Friday’s press conference on Bernardo Oaks Drive, October 23, 2026. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less