Who Maintains the Roads in Gastonia?

If you’ve ever driven down a bumpy road and wondered, “Why hasn’t the City fixed this yet?” or “When is the City going to pave my road?” — you’re not alone. We hear that question a lot. And the honest answer is one many people don’t realize: Not every road in our city is actually maintained by the City of Gastonia.

The City’s Public Services Department maintains over 366 miles of City streets and NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is responsible for more than 100 miles of state-maintained streets within the city limits. The City’s Street maintenance crews are responsible for sweeping, flushing, and resurfacing streets, as well as repairing concrete curb and gutter, sidewalks, and potholes.

Simply put, some streets are the City’s responsibility, and others belong to the State of North Carolina. And that difference matters when it comes to who fixes a pothole, repaves a road, changes the speed limit, allows speed humps, or makes safety improvements. Let’s break it down in plain language.

What the City Takes Care Of

Think about the streets where you live or walk your dog — those quiet neighborhood streets are usually city-maintained. That also includes most downtown blocks and smaller local roads.

When you see City crews filling potholes, repainting crosswalks, replacing signs, or resurfacing streets, they’re working on the roads the City controls and maintains.

What the State Takes Care Of

Now, think about the roads you take to get across town — the ones with heavier traffic, higher speeds, or route numbers like U.S. 321 or N.C. 7. Most of these are state-maintained roads, overseen by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).

Here’s where things get confusing. Some state roads look like “city roads,” especially when they run right through busy areas, like Franklin Boulevard (U.S. 74), New Hope Road (N.C. 279), or Union Road (N.C. 274). But even then, the City can’t just go out and repave them or add new features without state approval. That means the timeline, budget, and repair schedule are all handled by NCDOT.

Why This Matters to You

Here’s the part that affects every resident: when you report an issue on a state-maintained road directly to the City, we often can’t fix it — even if we want to. We still pass those concerns along, but it can slow things down.

Knowing which agency is responsible helps your request get to the right place faster. It also sets clear expectations about how long it might take to fix the issue.

“Our team takes pride in maintaining the streets we’re responsible for, and we know how important safe and accessible roads are to our residents,” said Dusty Wentz, the City’s Public Services Director. “When you contact us about a concern, we do everything we can to help — even if that means coordinating with NCDOT. We’re all working toward the same goal: keeping our community moving safely.”

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So How Can You Tell the Difference?

The easiest way is to check the City’s website, where we keep a City Street Map. But here are a few quick hints:

• Check for a numbered designation: Look for a State Road (SR), U.S. route, or N.C. route number. Any road with this designation is state maintained.
• Search the NCDOT database: The NCDOT provides an online Public Street Information Database map (HB620) to check the ownership and maintenance status of a specific road.
• Consider the location: If a road is within city limits but does not have an SR number or U.S. designation, it is likely a municipal street. If it is outside city limits and has no SR number, it may be a privately maintained road. In North Carolina, counties do not own and maintain roads.
• Look at traffic volume: Larger streets with heavy through-traffic are more likely to be state-maintained, while smaller neighborhood streets are typically managed by the city.
• Still unsure? Contact the City of Gastonia — we’re happy to look it up.

We're All on the Same Team

At the end of the day, whether it’s the City of Gastonia or the State doing the work, we’re all focused on the same thing: keeping your daily commute safe, accessible, and reliable.

We know road conditions matter to you. They matter to us too. And when you understand who maintains what, it helps us all get problems addressed more quickly and clearly.

For more information about the City’s Streets & Traffic Division or to report an issue, visit the Streets & Traffic page on the City’s website or call 704-866-6843. For more information about NCDOT roads and services, visit the NCDOT website or call 1-877-DOT4YOU (1-877-368-4968).