World’s first pothole preventing robot to be road tested in Hertfordshire
An autonomous robot, developed by tech company Robotiz3d and academics at the University of Liverpool in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council Highways Engineers, is set to pass its first test outside of a lab environment, on the roads of Hertfordshire. Using imaging technology the team working on the project have now developed the first Autonomous […]
Microcapsules could prevent potholes, says University of Surrey as it starts new research project
The University of Surrey has started research to investigate the use solar-to-ground heat exchange to prevent freeze-thaw damage to roads. Upheaval for the road pavement sector: could freeze-thaw damage be avoided using solar-to-ground heat exchange technology? (image © Ints VikmanisDreamstime) A five-year research programme led by Benyi Cao, a lecturer in civil and environmental engineering […]
More than 16,000 potholes repaired across Staffordshire so far this year
Staffordshire County Council is making good on its promise to fix more roads across the county with 16,308 pothole repair jobs completed so far. A ‘job’ is, on average, two or three potholes at a time – meaning the number of potholes filled across the county is likely to be double or even triple that […]
Government announces £8bn to repair roads
The Government says millions of people will enjoy smoother, safer and faster road journeys thanks what it’s calling the biggest-ever road resurfacing programme to improve local roads. Transport Secretary Mark Harper has set out the allocations of an £8.3 billion long-term plan, which he says is enough to resurface over 5,000 miles of road across […]
RAC deals with record number of third-quarter pothole breakdowns, but there are solutions…
The poor condition of Britain’s local roads has led to the RAC dealing with the highest number of pothole-related breakdowns it has seen in any third quarter since it began recording this data in 2006. RAC patrols went to the rescue of 5,978 drivers from July to September for damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs […]
Fife Council fighting the battle against potholes
Fife Council is fighting the battle against potholes with a new road surfacing process. Working with COLAS Ltd, the council is using a microsasphalt surfacing technique on 28 roads in Cowdenbeath, Anstruther, Pittenweem and St Andrews. The aim is to use the preventative treatment on roads to seal the surface, prevent potholes and prolong the […]
Transport Secretary’s insight into ‘money-saving’ pothole fixer
The Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper, was given a live demonstration of a machine which is helping fix Britain’s roads and help contribute towards ending the ‘scourge’ of potholes. Mr Harper was shown the JCB Pothole Pro during a visit to the company’s Derbyshire engine plant and saw for himself how the machine […]
Trial of new approach to fixing potholes in Essex
A new method of filling in potholes and cracks in roads is being trialled in Essex. Essex Highways is trialling the new method in Colchester and Tendring. At the moment, the council repairs potholes by cutting out the surrounding road surface. Hot asphalt is then poured into the defect and compacted to fix it. Roadmender […]
Pothole breakdowns up by a third – AA
The AA is reporting it’s dealing with a third more pothole-related breakdowns than it did two years ago. The Daily Telegraph quotes Chief Executive Jakob Pfaudler, welcoming a promised £8bn in spending on pothole repairs, saying it would be appreciated by his customers. There were around 35,000 pothole-related breakdowns in 2021, but more than 50,000 […]
Warwickshire County Council to change pothole reporting
Warwickshire County Council has declared it wants to make changes to the system for reporting issues in the pipeline The current system allows for members of the public to report potholes through a live web page on the council’s website, pinpointing the problem area or areas on a map. It opens by laying out anticipated outcomes […]