The Beast from the East may be forgotten now but its effects are still being felt every time we drive over a pothole.
Potholes are caused by the freeze-thaw cycle, causing water under the road surface to expand and contract. It’s been estimated that the combined depth of all the potholes on UK roads is 40km; the deepest mine in the world, in South Africa, is around 4km deep.
Reasons to get potholes filled in
According to Department for Transport statistics, traffic levels are at a record high, with 325.1 billion vehicle miles travelled in 2017. Yet resurfacing work is massively underfunded.
So why do local authorities need to take action?
- Potholes cause axle and suspension damage, puncture tyres and buckle wheels, costing British motorists an estimated £2.8 billion a year.
- More than 31,000 compensation claims are made every year, costing local authorities around £30 million.
- On average, a road is resurfaced in England every 54 years. In Wales it’s once every 107 years.
- It would take English local authorities 12 years and Welsh authorities 14 years to catch up on the current backlog of resurfacing work.
Don’t wait for an emergency, plan maintenance now
According to the Asphalt Industry Alliance’s Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance Survey, it costs £64 for an emergency repair of a pothole compared to £53 for a repair as part of a planned maintenance programme.
Globic Groundworks, part of Drain and Sewer Services based in Aldershot, is fully NRSWA Streetworks accredited to work safely in public roads.
With 50 years of experience, we repair potholes and other surface defects quickly and efficiently. If a defect is more serious, with structural damage transferred to lower levels of the road, we can repair all affected layers as required.
Regular maintenance ensures the surface never needs full reconstructive work, reducing long term costs.
If you require emergency repair work or you want to plan a more maintenance plan, contact Globic Groundworks or ring 01252 310515.