County council reports fixing over 22,000 potholes so far this year

Derbyshire County Council has stepped up its efforts to fix the county’s potholes following cold then wet weather at the beginning of the year. 

From the beginning of the year until 4th March, 22,774 potholes have been fixed, a weekly average of 3,080 over the past 5 weeks.

Extra roadworker gangs have been mobilised across the county, and they have been and will continue to work longer hours including at weekends, to tackle potholes reported on the county’s roads.

Three Jetpatcher machines have been taken on to help, and they are mainly being used on rural roads. The Jetpatcher uses a high velocity air stream to clear existing holes of any debris and water as well as laying and compacting new Tarmac.

The council normally has 18 pothole fixing gangs. Since the beginning of the year the aim has been to increase the number of gangs to 30 including the three Jetpatcher machines. Extra gangs have been created by moving roadworkers from other jobs. 

The constant freezing and thawing then rainfall at the beginning of the year has led to roads cracking, resulting in a significant rise in the number of potholes and carriageway deterioration.

With snow forecast for the county over the course of 9th and 10th March, the authority expected more potholes will be created but that the weather would also cause delays to fixing potholes in the short term as many roadworkers are gritter drivers.

County Council Cabinet Member for Highways Assets and Transport Councillor Kewal Singh Athwal: “We always see a large number of potholes at this time of year as the weather takes a toll on the roads.

“The huge amount of potholes that the highways service has fixed so far this year is great news for all who use the county’s roads.

“We’ve put extra resources in and moved roadworkers from planned work to fixing potholes, and have asked them to work longer hours. 

“We’ve also taken on three Jetpatcher machines, which are really helping on our more rural roads.

“I’d ask our residents to bear with us as we carry out the repairs, and apologise for any delays to road users while our gangs are out and about carrying out this vital work.”

Potholes and other road defects can be reported on the council’s website at derbyshire.gov.uk/reportit
 
Pictured: Cllr Kewal Singh Athwal, left, with highways colleague Keith Travis, with one of the Jetpatcher machines.