Upland Invests in Faster, More Efficient Pothole Repairs

At its August 10, 2026 meeting, the Upland City Council considered the purchase of a new Cimline DuraPatcher P5 All-in-One Pothole Repair Truck for the Public Works Department. The proposal is intended to help the City respond to pothole complaints more quickly, improve employee safety, and make better use of a relatively small street maintenance workforce.

Why the City Says the Equipment Is Needed

Upland maintains more than 229 centerline miles of roads and alleys and receives an estimated 1,000 or more pothole and roadway-related service requests each year through telephone calls, the Upland Connect app, email, word of mouth, and internal service requests.

Staff also reported that requests are expected to increase as more residents become familiar with Upland Connect and as pavement conditions continue to deteriorate. The presentation lists Upland’s current average Pavement Condition Index, or PCI, at 52 and notes that the City has received 18 pothole-related claims.

The workload is particularly significant because the Public Works Operations Division has only seven funded full-time maintenance workers responsible for a wide range of duties. In addition to pothole repair, those employees handle weed and graffiti abatement, street and park signs, storm cleanup, sidewalk and curb repairs, street painting, traffic control, vector control, event support, tree removal, landscaping assistance, emergency response and asphalt work.

The Problem With the Current Process

Using the City’s existing equipment, repairing a single pothole can require two to four employees depending on traffic-control needs and can take approximately 20 to 30 minutes per pothole, not including travel time.

The challenge becomes larger once crews arrive at a reported location. Staff indicated that workers regularly find 10 to 20 additional potholes nearby that also require repair, meaning that responding to a single service request can sometimes consume an entire workday.

How the New Truck Would Change the Process

The proposed Cimline DuraPatcher P5 is designed as an all-in-one pothole repair vehicle. As illustrated in the presentation on page 5, the truck completes the repair process through a sequence that cleans the damaged area, applies tack material, fills the pothole and coats the completed repair.

One of the most significant differences is that the equipment allows the operator to remain inside the vehicle cab while performing much of the work. Staff believes this would improve worker safety while also reducing the number of employees needed for pothole repairs.

Under what the City describes as peak efficiency conditions, the difference could be substantial:

• Current pothole repair time: 20–30 minutes

• Cimline DuraPatcher P5: less than 2 minutes

• Current staffing requirement: 2–3 employees

• Cimline staffing requirement: 1 employee

Those estimates are based on ideal weather, traffic conditions, pothole size and a 10-hour shift, so actual field performance will vary. However, the primary benefit is not simply repairing potholes faster. Reducing a pothole crew from several employees to one could allow other Public Works employees to concentrate on sidewalks, signs, landscaping, storm cleanup and other maintenance needs throughout the City.

Upland Would Be the First in Southern California

According to the presentation, Upland would have the first Cimline DuraPatcher P5 in Southern California.

Because of that, City staff negotiated additional ongoing savings on parts and labor. In exchange, the City would occasionally allow the equipment retailer, Haaker Equipment, to conduct demonstrations at the Upland City Yard. Haaker has offices nearby in La Verne.

Cost and Funding

The total proposed purchase price is $376,564.70.

Importantly, the presentation states that the entire purchase would be paid for using Gas Tax funds, with no impact on the City's General Fund.

City staff recommended that the Council approve the purchase from Haaker Equipment of La Verne and authorize the City Manager to execute the documents necessary to complete the acquisition.

Why This Matters

For residents, potholes are one of the most visible signs of deteriorating infrastructure. But the underlying issue is larger than filling individual holes. Upland has hundreds of miles of roadway to maintain and a limited number of employees responsible for numerous competing Public Works responsibilities.

Equipment that allows one employee to perform work that currently requires several employees has the potential to increase productivity without adding additional positions. It also allows the City to dedicate specialized transportation funding toward infrastructure rather than drawing from General Fund resources that support other municipal services.

The real measure of success will be what residents see on the streets: faster pothole repairs, shorter backlogs, better use of Public Works staff and more time available for other infrastructure maintenance throughout Upland.

Disclaimer: The Upland Update is an independent community resource and is not affiliated with the City of Upland. This is my personal initiative to keep residents and businesses informed about key issues, city developments, and community events that impact our daily lives. My goal is to ensure you have clear, transparent, and timely information to stay engaged and involved in shaping Upland’s future.

James Breitling

(909) 342-2523

info@theuplandupdate.com

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