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The winter months are upon us with the cold, wet weather exacerbating potholes on key roads in our towns and cities. Dave Sanders, Head of Technical Sales at Wrekin, explores the pothole problem in detail. He analyses one of the root causes – poor ironworks – and the innovations on hand for a long-term solution.
How bad is the pothole problem in the UK?
Burst tyres, buckled wheels and damaged suspension. We all know the risks that road users face daily when navigating potholes on our roads. In turn, this puts huge pressure on local authorities to try and rectify road surface problems with limited resources.
And while huge amounts of work are carried out on pothole repairs and resurfacing – one pothole is filled in the equivalent of every 22 seconds – ALARM-survey-2023-FINAL-with-links.pdf (asphaltuk.org) – it’s an unsustainable and seemingly never-ending task for local authorities to keep up with.
Potholes are a longstanding issue, despite the funds thrown at tackling them. The apparent problem with our road surface issues appears to stem from taking a reactive approach, rather than addressing the real root causes.
What causes a pothole in the first place?
Potholes are formed from weaknesses in the road surface, this might be around ironworks, potentially from surfacing joints, or remedial works, or the use of poor-quality materials.
These small weaknesses are then exacerbated through a combination of weather conditions and wear and tear. This can be seen particularly in colder months when water that has entered cracks in the road surface freezes and expands – the ‘freeze thaw’ effect.
A recent research report ‘More Than a Surface Issue: Helping Local Authorities Find Solutions to the UK’s Pothole Problem’ combines the experiences of local authorities with industry voices including Gaist, the provider of roadscape intelligence solutions, and the Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG). Together, with Wrekin, the research explores the connection between gully grates, manhole covers and potholes that form near ironworks.
There is always potential for a weakness to be created in a road surface wherever a piece of ironwork exists. Understanding the relationship between ironwork specification and installation, and the formation of potholes is crucial in helping local authorities act and form longer-term approaches to maintaining roads.
A starting point for local authorities: reviewing your ironwork specifications.
But what is the solution? Thankfully, the UK pothole problem is not a lost cause. Local authorities must focus on a whole life approach over short-term patch repair. The solution partly lies in longer-term planning and management that will help local authorities keep roads in better condition for longer.
This includes a focus on the correct specification of ironwork and materials as well as planning for our ever-changing road landscape that includes more eco-friendly cycle and bus lanes. Choosing ironwork that is above and beyond the standard will position local authorities in a better place to combat the most common causes of failure. Helping to reduce long-term costs while also reducing an environmental impact plus a reduction in pothole complaints.
Three key solutions to focus on:
It can be difficult for local authorities when they are sub-contracting, to know what solutions to focus on. Wrekin’s expertise and research highlights three key areas:
- Bedding materials
Bedding materials must be selected based on their suitability for the job. Adjustment units which are made from the same material as the bedding material make for a homogeneous installation. - Longevity
Suppliers to local authorities must be able to demonstrate that ironwork products are designed to significantly reduce the replacement cycles throughout their service life – improving the whole life cost and reducing carbon emissions. - Optimised designs
Ironworks should be designed to carefully balance strength and performance. Local authorities should ask for gully grates, access covers and manholes that are engineered to exceed standards.
More Information:
Find more out about the solutions with Wrekin’s research report
Wrekin’s research report ‘More Than a Surface Issue: Helping Local Authorities Find Solutions to the UK’s Pothole Problem’ covers the problem and solution in-depth. It also includes case studies from local authorities including Derby City Council and Brighton and Hove Council. It is available to download via https://wrek.in/potholes