VIDEO: Teams out in force to rid our roads of motorists' curse of potholes
Roadworks teams have been out in force to do battle against one of the biggest curses motorists have been encountering on our roads – potholes.
While there is always an increase in the number of potholes after the winter months, the problem has been made worse because of the cold snap experienced at the beginning of the year.
As a result, road teams have been working flat out to make repairs.
Divisional manager for infrastructure at West Sussex County Council Tony Collins said: "It is an ongoing problem which we are trying to keep on top of with our planned inspections and repairs.
"But at this time of year we have had a particular problem, in response to which the county council has put additional money into the repair of those potholes – around 1m – and that is how we have been able to blitz the potholes."
Over the past couple of months teams from construction specialists May Gurney have repaired more than 5,000 potholes over 9,000 square metres of carriageway.
There are two types of team – one patches up holes which could pose a danger to motorists and then a team will follow at a later date to carry out permanent repairs.
Where large areas of road have failed, two paving machines are working to resurface whole lengths of road. Teams have also been undergoing planned inspections to identify areas which need to be broken out and deeper repairs made.
Mr Collins said potholes were caused by a number of factors but usually the problem was water ingress, where water seeps under the surface.
The problem has been exacerbated this year by cold weather, during which water has frozen and thawed several times, each time pushing the surface further apart and making it weaker.
Potholes are also caused by heavy use of a road, by vehicles such as HGVs. Roads can also be weakened when utility companies dig out trenches.
The Observer was invited to watch permanent repairs being made along Malcolm Road in Tangmere, after residents complained about the number of potholes on the county's roads.
Richard Collins, of May Gurney, said: "To make a permanent repair can take up to an hour and our teams have been completing between eight and ten repairs a day."
While West Sussex has had an increase in potholes, Mr Collins said it was no worse than any other county.
Potholes were a major problem all over the country and he urged members of the public to report any potholes through a special hotline, or through the county council's website.
To report a pothole, call 01243 642105 or log on to www.westsussex.gov.uk and click on the highway faults section on the home page.
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Weather for Chichester
Monday 13 February 2012
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