Weather causes potholes to appear on roads
Potholes caused by the recent severe weather conditions are beginning to appear across the country’s road network.
The worst conditions in 30 years have left roads exposed to a condition known as “freeze-thaw”, which damages the roads in wet and particularly freezing conditions. Water in cracks in the road expands into ice causing the surface of the road to break up and deeper than usual potholes to form.
The public is being asked to urgently report any defects they spot to their local authority so that they can fix them as quickly as possible.
A record number of potholes were filled last year, with councils mending a hole in the road, on average, every 33 seconds, according to new analysis published by the Local Government Association.
Last year, as an average across the country, councils filled 968,195 potholes – or one every 33 seconds. According to the figures, while councils spent an extra £10.9 million last year filling potholes, they cut the amount being paid out in road user compensation claims by almost a third, or £17.8 million, saving taxpayers £6.9 million.
Cllr David Sparks, chair of the Local Government Association Transport Board, said: “Councils spend millions to ensure that roads are safe and potholes are filled. The latest cold weather means that they are working flat out to fill in the ones created during the last month of freezing weather.
“Potholes are the gaping sores in our road network and councils know how much motorists want to see the proverbial bandage being applied. Getting people safely from A to B is at the top of every council’s agenda.
“The wet combined with the freezing conditions destroys tarmac very quickly. As the ice seeps into the road it expands and rips chunks of the surface out leaving potholes blighting the highways.
“After the snow comes the repairs and councils are working flat out to keep drivers safe by fixing the holes as quickly as possible. However, some ground is now waterlogged meaning the bituminous material will not stick. Temporary solutions will be used where necessary until the weather improves.”
