Drivers in the city will likely have to deal with the deep potholes along North Main Street for a few more months.

While Route 8 runs through the city, the state Department of Transportation is responsible for its maintenance.

Bob Skrak, the maintenance manager for PennDOT in Butler County, said state crews are set to repair the potholes later this summer.

“We’re going to do some work this year,” he said. “We’re going to pave from about Brady Street up to GetGo.”

That gas station-convenience store is atop the hill on North Main Street Extension, near the Route 422 interchange.

Skrak said PennDOT also will pave Route 8 south of the city from the Gen. Richard Butler Bridge to near the bottom of Armco Hill.

Councilman Richard Schontz Jr., who heads the city streets department, admits the potholes at the north end of the city have gotten worse following the cold winter.

“They’re almost down to the base,” he said.

Schontz said he is confident the state will adequately fix the potholes.

“They always do a very good job,” he said.

Skrak said PennDOT’s plans to pave Route 8 along the borders of the city follow future plans of paving downtown.

“We want to do the town, but we have to do cross walks first,” he said. “And those are expensive.”

PennDOT is responsible for maintaining any crosswalk along its routes. Skrak said the curbs can become expensive because they must meet federal Americans with Disabilities Act specifications.

The state hopes to begin “filtering in” work on crosswalks beginning next year. Skrak said it may take a couple years to complete all the intersections along Main Street.

The state would then repave the rest of Main Street after the crosswalks are completed.

“It’s a process,” Skrak said, adding the state hopes to repave the route every dozen years.

As for the other streets, Schontz said the city will have $125,000 for paving projects this year.

The councilman said the project list isn’t finished yet, but that he has one section of street he would like to see paved in particular.

“I’d like to see work done on the section of Miller Avenue between Brady Street and Snyder Avenue,” Schontz said.

The city streets department has spent the early part of summer attempting to repair the numerous potholes created during the winter.

Schontz said anyone who wants to report a pothole can call the department at 724-285-8440.