Repaired potholes being 'washed out' within a week in Laois

A new approach is needed to road repairs as pothole repairs are being “washed out” within a week.

That was the view of Fianna Fail Cllr Padraig Fleming who called on the council to use hot macadam in place of cold tar and chip.   

He tabled a motion asking: “That Laois County Council consider the use of hot macadam in pothole repairs rather than cold tar and chip as the hot macadam will have a longer lifespan in view of the weather conditions over the last six months.”

In response, Council Area Engineer Tom Drennan said “Laois County Council currently utilise hot liquid bitumen in combination with chippings and cold delayed set material to carry out pothole repairs.  These repair methods, in general, seal the opening and preserve the road surface. The continuous wet weather over the last eight months aligned with the combination of frosty weather over the winter has created the perfect conditions for the formation of potholes on the road network which has placed pressure on maintenance operations throughout the country.  Laois County Council will review the request for the use of this material in the context of capacity, efficiency and cost.

Cllr Fleming said the hot macadam would be “a game changer” as the method at the moment wasn’t working. “It is being washed out within a week,” Cllr Fleming said. 

Mr Drennan said the use of different materials was “constantly reviewed” and hot macadam had been previously used. He said there is more time and work and the repairs involved deploying a “hotbox” to melt the material. 

“There is time and prep in a hotbox, we wouldn’t get a fraction of the work done even though it would be done to a higher standard,” he explained. 

“It is at our disposal but it is a resource issue in terms of manpower,” said Mr Drennan. 

He said there are two outdoor crews in the area and outdoor staff are currently down about 15 or 20% of staff when retirement and sick leave is taken into consideration. 

He said if hot macadam was used they wouldn’t be able carry out repairs to all of the roads. “It is a good system and we have used it before. It is just to balance our resources,” he said.

Mr Drennan said it was a resource issue and the repair of potholes was very challenging at present. 

“Potholes have just come out of nowhere in the last couple of months,” he said. 

Mr Drennan said the hotbox system is good but the council wouldn’t be able to cover a fraction of the work required. He agreed that the repairs would last longer.  

Independent Cllr Aisling Moran said potholes are being filled and reopening the following day. She said the council may as well “burn the money”. 

Independent Cllr Ben Brennan claimed there was “no efficiency in tar and chip” and he believed the hot macadam was more effective. 

Cllr Fleming claimed potholes were causing “both injury to cars and frightening people” who hit them. He believed more resources were needed for the road section. 

Cllr Moran said the “rural roads are absolutely being eaten up” as they are used by trucks and combine harvesters. She said the roads staff can’t do any more but it is a waste of money. 

“If you have to fill a pothole four or five times and it cost half the amount to use the cold tar, it is still costing you two and a half times,” she said. 

Cllr Brennan said the cold tar is “more water than tar because of Mr Green up in Dublin making us use” it. 

Mr Drennan said he wasn’t discounting the hotbox system but he said the council would need five or six hotboxes to deal with the extent of the repairs. He said the council had to work within the budget they receive from the department. 

Laois outdoor staff were busy repairing potholes across the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District over the last month.

The monthly progress report revealed teams had carried out repairs at Castletown, Ballinakill, Ballickmoyler, Dormer’s Cross, Modibeadh, Hollymount, Aughanure, Doonane, Cappanafeacle, Killyganard, Cowpark, Barrowhouse, Milltown, Ballycoolin, Rahan Road, Ballyhide, Ballyharmon, Mullin’s Lane, Rossmore, Ardateggle, Grange Killeen, Knockbeg and at Boley.