Potholes - why spending more may not be the answer

PETERBOROUGH, U.K. - Sept. 17, 2014 - PRLog -- As potholes continue to form in UK roads and repairs repeatedly fail, the question on everyone’s mind is, ‘at what point are the authorities going to find a permanent solution.’   As a result of road user frustration numerous websites dedicated to this issue have been created, highlighting what needs to be done and the damage being caused.  Yet, despite the size of the problem, we are still awaiting the answer.

Central government’s answer following the extremely wet winter of 2013/14 is to throw money at the issue.  However, this could be a waste of money as the solutions that will be utilised are often ineffective in delivering permanent repairs or due to the scale of the issue only temporary (make safe) in nature.

The current, conventional, methods known widely throughout the road maintenance industry include hot applied bitumen based systems, typically DBM (Dense Bitumen Macadam) and HRA (Hot Rolled Asphalt) and cold applied asphalt.

Hot applied techniques are often the only solutions recognised as ‘permanent’ by local authorities.  However, the quality and longevity of the repair is heavily dependent on preparation (cutting back of edges, debris removal etc), bitumen temperature and post installation compaction.  Additionally, both methods are labour intensive, time consuming and relatively expensive, especially for individual and / or isolated potholes.

As a result of the costs and challenges with using hot applied techniques, cold applied asphalt has become the solution of choice for temporary (make safe) repairs and remote / isolated repairs.   These products provide a fast and initially cost effective repair, whilst minimising disruption to road users.   However, this approach rarely delivers effective repairs and often requires multiple return visits to ‘make safe’, whilst a cost effective permanent hot applied solution is arranged.

Clearly, the traditional approach to pothole repairs is unsustainable.  Local authorities are being driven to complete more and more repairs within limited budgets.  Therefore, the inevitable ‘sticky plaster’ techniques that are adopted only proliferate the problem as councils desperately try and manage potholes within a fixed budget window, only for the struggle to start again when new budgets are released.  This short term approach often results in the same pothole being treated year after year, and in some cases more than once a year.

However, there are options now available in the marketplace that utilise innovative new materials that, whilst more expensive in terms of materials, offer much more durable, sustainable and warranted solutions that provide much better value over an extended time period (typically 3-5 years).   One such solution, Degafill^TM is widely used in the private sector and has passed road trials completed by local authorities.  However, uptake has been slow.  James Wright of Degafloor believes that to overcome the UK pothole issue, fundamental change is required.  ‘Local authorities need the resources and freedom to take a longer term approach to resolving the issue, and central government needs to remove the red tape that drives up cost.’

As an example, expensive certification is often required before a product can be used on the public highway.  This certification is UK specific and restricts innovation.  Safety is of course paramount, but the cost and process stifles innovation.

The most attractive permanent solution would be an innovative, sustainable product that delivers longevity and can be installed quickly without the need for lengthy road closures that increases the  already heavy congestion across most UK cities and towns.

Alongside the speed of installation and reliable performance, the ultimate pothole cure should also deliver the best possible lifetime value. This will enable local authorities to not only stay within their budgets (long term), but will also save money which is currently being spent on repeat repairs and insurance claims resulting from injuries and vehicle damage.

Degafloor, the manufacturer of Degafill^TM, believes Degafill is part of the solution to better and safer pothole free roads and is happy to provide free of charge road trials to local authorities to prove it.