Pothole Day – has it all gone to pot? A piece by IKO

With Pothole Day taking place this March, Group MD at IKO PLC Andy Williamson has been discussing the pesky problem of exactly that.

Pothole season; the time of year which is a perennial nightmare for motorists, councils, taxpayers… pretty much everyone.

Potholes are difficult to navigate, very dangerous and cost us all serious money. The issue seemingly get worse every year; a National Pothole Day, taking place on March 8th, is designed to raise awareness of the problems theu cause.

In 2016/17, councils repaired an average of 13,468 potholes, costs ranging from £49 to £72 each, according to the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) Survey in 2017. 

Furthermore, councils forked out £6 million in claims caused by potholes which they didn’t get to.

A snowballing issue becoming difficult to handle; with cash-strapped councils have less resources to tackle them every year, it begs the question – what can we do about it?

Councils have to make speedy repairs to ensure roads keep operating, using a quick-to-apply traditional material which absorbs water. 

Throughout spring and summer, when repairs occur, this is not so much of an issue. However, come winter, the rain, freeze and thaw cycle means road surfaces expand and contract, forming cracks and, inevitably, potholes appear; often just months after the initalrepair!

This approach may be fast and speedy in the short-term, but looking into the future, it is costly and ineffective, a drain on taxpayer’s money and dangerous to road-users.

Andy Williamson

But there is an alternative; patch teams could be using mastic asphalt. This a modern, void-less impermeable repair material, which would solve the issue of water ingress and frost.

Although taking a bit longer to prepare, as it requires squaring the edges of the hole to make a clean edge before applying the repair material, it sets very quickly, meaning the road can be used again within hours; guaranteeing lasting repair, with no resurfacing the entire road needed.

By opting for the right materials and repair process, we can improve the quality of repairs and save valuable time and money in the long-term.

The recent extreme cold weather will put more stress on our roads than ever, meaning the pothole problem is likely to get worse if we continue using the same tired methods.

To raise awareness of the issue and support National Pothole Day, IKO is releasing the IKO yellow duck from its  award-winning social media campaign #NoMorePotholes.

Be aware, it is for one day only! Simply tweet @ikoplc with a picture of a pothole you think needs repair and you’ll be in with a chance of getting a duck.

IKO PLC (Head Office), 
Appley Lane North,

Appley Bridge,
Wigan,
WN6 9AB,
United Kingdom

Phone: 01257 255 771
Fax: 01257 252 514
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @ikoplc

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