RSTA News
Innovative and fast acting road surface treatments are coming to the rescue of local councils as the thaw reveals the damage done to our roads by the recent ‘Big Freeze’.
Numerous potholes are appearing as road surfaces break-up under the pressure of ice that formed and expanded in cracks. Local councils, already under pressure to keep roads open during the snow, are now under pressure to quickly and efficiently repair them. The damaged caused by this year’s winter could be far more extensive than the two weeks cold snap of Last February which resulted in 1.5 million potholes having to be repaired.
“Local councils are working hard to repair the damage caused by the freezing weather,” said Howard Robinson, Chief Executive of the Roads Surface Treatments Association. “Doing nothing is not an option for them as potholes and damaged road surfaces can damage vehicles and result in accidents. Doing nothing can also cost councils dearly. Last year, they paid out over £53 million pounds in compensation claims”.
Robinson points out the range of road surface treatments available for rapid repair of potholes such as patching where potholes are repaired without the need to dig out as new road material is simply applied without causing further damage to the road and with minimum disruption to road users. Another solution is the use of infrared technology which mends road surface defects by recycling the existing macadam. A typical pothole can be repaired in just 20 minutes.
“There is a number of road surface treatments that offer fast and cost-effective repair of potholes” said Robinson. “Our members are working hard with local councils to minimise not only the impact of winter on our roads but also the impact on councils’ pressurised highway budgets”.
