North Somerset Council’s Highways Team has trialled an innovative road maintenance treatment that could help extend the life of road surfaces and prevent potholes from developing.
Working with specialist contractor Multi Contracting Services Ltd, the council tested the company’s multi mastic surfacing repair product and application process, which is designed to seal cracks, joints and minor defects before they develop into more significant issues.
The trial covered 196 square metres of road and will help the highways team assess how effective the treatment is and whether it could play a wider role in North Somerset Council’s highways maintenance and improvement activities. This section of road was chosen for the trial because it had a mix of cracks and small potholes along its length, providing the right mix of defects to test the product fully in one location.
Suitable for use on both concrete and bitumen road surfaces, the treatment can be used for joint infill and overbanding, crack sealing and pothole repairs. One of its key advantages is speed, with treated areas ready to reopen to traffic in as little as five minutes – helping to minimise disruption for road users, residents and local businesses.
Unlike traditional repair methods, the process requires no excavation, meaning no parts of the road needed to be dug up, removed from site and replaced with new asphalt. The technique also produces zero dust, low noise levels and no vibration, dramatically reducing the impact of works on nearby residents and businesses.
In addition, the contractor estimates that the treatment generates up to 90 per cent lower carbon emission than conventional repair methods, while also improving safety for road workers by removing the need for heavy cutting and breaking equipment.
Although the treatment is not designed to address underlying structural defects, it can help protect road surfaces from further deterioration by preventing water ingress and seal vulnerable areas before significant damage could occur.
Cllr Hugh Malyan, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at North Somerset Council, said:
“We’re always looking for innovative and proactive ways to maintain our roads and make the best use of public money. This trial will help us assess whether this product and technique could play a role in slowing down road surface deterioration and preventing minor defects from worsening.
“While it isn’t a structural repair solution, it could become a useful addition to our preventative maintenance activities by helping to protect road surfaces and reduce the conditions that can lead to potholes.
“We’re pleased to be working with Multi Contracting Services Ltd and look forward to reviewing the results of the trial.”
Lee Merces, Managing Director for Multi Contracting Services Ltd, said:
“We are excited to be working with North Somerset Council on this trial and demonstrating how multi mastic repairs can support a proactive approach to highway maintenance, and look forward to reviewing the results later down the line.”
The results of the trial will be reviewed by the council’s highways team to help determine whether the product could be considered for wider use as part of future preventative maintenance activities.
(Picture: North Somerset Council)
