We're using a new, faster and more cost-effective method to fix potholes
Friday, 15 March 2024
We've been using a new technique that speeds up pothole repairs. It's more cost effective and eco-friendly, too, because it uses the rubber waste from end-of-life HGV tyres.
The innovative technique uses rubber-modified stone-mastic asphalt. The mixture is kept warm on the back of the vehicle so can be used straight into the pothole. Because of the rubber content, it’s sticky and easy to apply when heated. Once poured into a pothole, it spreads beyond the edges, adhering to the surface and creating a waterproof seal, flowing into cracks and voids. As the work is quicker this also shortens the time needed for road closures.
With 9 end-of-life HGV tyres to every tonne of material laid the carbon footprint is typically 8% lower than traditional asphalt.
The materials can be used to repair a wide variety of surface defects in roads and pavements including potholes, cracking and the surrounds of manholes and gullies.
Along with our highway provider, Milestone, we're using the new technique on repairs to damaged sections of road across several locations in the south of Central Bedfordshire.
This financial year, we used traditional techniques to repair potholes, fixing more than 4,500 potholes, that’s an increase of over 1,500 compared to the previous year. If the new mastic asphalt repairs prove successful, this could mean more repairs than ever before are a real possibility.
Councillor Simon Ford, our Executive Member for Highways, said:
We are always seeking ways to make public money go as far as possible and this new approach does just that. This solution delivers increased productivity, reduces disruption on the network, and lowers our carbon footprint.
This builds upon the significant surface dressing programme that we have successfully completed and will help us improve the condition of our roads. As this technique has been successful, we’ll be using this on further roads across Central Bedfordshire.