Potholes

[rov1200]

Do you find the filling in of potholes recently a complete waste of time and money? In our local area the same potholes have been filled in 3 times without solving the problem. They were filled in at the weekend and now have gaping holes. This can't be blamed on the ice and snow as we haven't had any recently.

[sddsddean]

To some extent I agree. The councils are merely filling the holes with 'Instarmac' or similar to try and avoid motorists claiming against them for knackered tyres etc. To do the job properly, the hole has to be jackhammered to a neat square edge before filling with proper asphalt (not the instant stuff). Even then this does not always work as its such a small area. On 'proper' roadworks our minimum patch size is 15m x 3.5m to ensure a decent finish.

[rov1200]

I hate to think what it is costing the council for such a short period repair. They may have just used gravel instead. Or maybe quick drying cement. But the stuff they use is as good as useless.

[AlBags]

They don't fill them correctly. The macadam/ballast filling material should be bonded to the parent material ... but it is never done properly. The frost/sun expands and contracts the joint, water gets in and repeatedly freezes ... and bobs your uncle .. a hole again : )

[boxtops]

I'll let you know.... a sign's gone up that our road is closed to traffic all next week while it's resurfaced, after years of quick fix pothole filling. Desperately needs it, but we'll see what it looks like next week!

[sddsddean]

You should hopefully get a decent job boxtops. Thats the sort of work I do and if they are closing the road it should be a 'plane out and resurface' job. Currently I'm working nights on the M1 between J18 and J16. We're resurfacing the whole lot over 16 weeks!

[rov1200]

Motorways are one thing but I believe they are the responsibility of Dept of Transport so the money can come from the exchequer. The minor roads seem to be the responsibility of the local council and I think ratepayers are getting a raw deal.

[sddsddean]

Yes thats true. Highways Agency is responsible for M'ways and Trunk Roads. It always amazes me round our way (Northants.) that we often do lots of housing estate roads and cul de sacs (where the biggest thing they get is a refuse truck once a week)
that look to be in fairly good nick, but the main roads with potholes you could drop a truck in are left alone! I wonder how many councillors live down the cul de sacs?!