Could 'cold mix' end the need for re-patching potholes? PIC: Kam Pratt / Pexels
Grey nomads need no reminding of just how bad Australia’s pothole problem is … and that recent rains are making it even worse!
As various jurisdictions throw more money at the problem and patch and re-patch in a desperate effort to keep pace with further road deterioration, the NSW Government says it is trying to think outside the box to find a more permanent solution.
Minister for Metropolitan Roads, Natalie Ward, said the extreme weather was creating a huge challenge for road maintenance crews who have already fixed four times the number of potholes compared to last year.
“One of the biggest challenges facing repair crews using traditional repair methods is the need to wait until the road is dry before being able to fill a pothole,” she said. “The prolonged wet weather also increases the risk of the same pothole re-forming.”
But it seems necessity really is the mother of invention.
“We’ve used a new ‘cold mix’ product on some of our worst potholes and it has already produced outstanding results,” she said. “Our road crews have not needed to re-fill a single pothole since they started using this product … the NSW Government is committed to making sure our roads are safe and reliable, which is why we are exploring new ways to fill our potholes faster and make sure the repairs last longer.”
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Sam Farraway, said the NSW Government had been collaborating with industry on a trial of a range of ‘cold mix’ materials to see which were more effective during severe weather.
“We’ve asked the experts for solutions and new technology we can foster to patch up potholes faster when it’s cold and wet,” he said. “Our crews have fixed more than 135,000 potholes on the State’s regional roads in NSW since the first wave of severe weather in February … we are responding as fast as possible when the weather conditions allow for road crews to undertake repairs.”
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No problems. Why ?: just slow down, avoid holes when safe & keep the tyre dealers waiting !!!