How do we stop potholes from forming?

For anyone that has seen the latest ALARM survey, they will know what we mean when I say it makes stark reading.

The backlog for road maintenance has now reached the point where more than half of the local road network in England and Wales is reported to have less than 15 years’ structural life left as the amount needed to fix the backlog of carriageway repairs increases to a record high of £16.3 billion.

And now there are more potholes than ever. There have been countless stories in the national media about it this year-more than ever-9/10 written in a way that only brings criticism to our industry. According to this year’s survey the total number of potholes filled has jumped by 43% to two million. But that is only the amount actually repaired?

The cost of potholes is also rising to over £50 per pothole for planned works and nearly £80 per pothole for reactive works.

So, shouldn’t we be trying to stop them forming in the first place?

Easier said than done I hear you cry, with many factors preventing local authorities from introducing more surface treatments into their asset management programmes. But that doesn’t mean we should stop trying. If we treat more of the good roads now, we can stop the decline.

But how does a pothole form?
Potholes are formed by the creation surface cracks, water and traffic. Small surface cracks form and expand over time with the action of traffic movements and sometimes freeze thaw. Water then gets through the surface of the cracked road surface, causing further deterioration.

This process is often started by micro-cracking at the surface of the road and the ageing of the bituminous aspect of the surface course.

But there is a solution to potholes. By applying sustainable and cost-effective surface treatments, you can protect and preserve the surface of the road, keeping it in better condition for longer.

RHINOPHALT asphalt preservation does just that. Trusted by over 50 road operators around the world, RHINOPHALT is the original, authentic and trusted source of preservation in several sectors including local and strategic roads, bridges, airports and test tracks. The product carries not only a BBA HAPAS certificate but also a UKCA/CE marking, demonstrating its consistent product quality and delivery whenever it is applied.

Rhinophalt asphalt preservation is on the rise in the UK with many local authorities using it to keep their roads in green and light amber condition for longer. Rhinophalt also provides an ideal solution for councils as sustainability challenges remain at the forefront of their agendas, with it providing more than 90% in carbon savings compared to traditional resurfacing. Supplier of RHINOPHALT, ASI Solutions, remains committed to helping local government and all road operators to reduce carbon as part of their asset management strategies.

It is ideal for preventing potholes from forming in the first place. RHINOPHALT contains Gilsonite which is naturally hardened bitumen. As well as all types of roads, including the M40, RHINOPHALT asphalt preservation has also been successfully applied to bridges, airports and test tracks around the world.

In 2022, the M40 was rated the motorway with the best journey experience in England in a survey of drivers by the independent watchdog, Transport Focus.

In the latest Strategic Roads User Survey the motorway between London and Birmingham had the highest overall satisfaction at 79 per cent, with motorists particularly praising the road surface.

The M40 has been sprayed incrementally since 2009, with leading asphalt preservation solution, RHINOPHALT to help protect and preserve it, keeping the road surface in good condition for longer.

Other major roads treated by RHINOPHALT includes the M25, A50 and major roads in Hungary, Germany and China.

RHINOPHALT can double the asphalt surface course service life of a road for half the cost compared to resurfacing, therefore reducing the demand for reactive maintenance, with fewer potholes and less claims. It preserves, protects and extends the life of the asphalt infrastructure and is proven to withstand all extreme climatic conditions.

RHINOPHALT asphalt preservation approximately 10% the cost of resurfacing. With repeat application you can prolong the need to resurface your road even further by extending the life of the surface well into the future, meaning the cost of resurfacing can be diverted to other maintenance priorities. Remember, road surfaces should only be deemed unsuitable, when the friction characteristics are below safety requirements.

RHINOPHALT can be applied in short operating windows, often at night meaning there is far less disruption to traffic. After application, roads can be re-lined and re-opened in just a few hours.