Staff Reporter
The Civils Lab at the Central University of Technology (CUT) is researching a safer pothole repair method that consumes less time and produces better quality repairs.
Roads in most parts of the country are in a poor state due to ageing and lack of maintenance.
Moisture in the underlying soil layers also contributes to the continued deterioration of roads.
“The newly developed method has been used in Bloemfontein and Boshoff to improve the conditions of the roads,” read part of a statement released by the university.
It said this repair method is one of the ways the institution continues to use technological solutions to provide a positive social impact in the community.
The Civils Lab is currently working with private companies and has devised a solution called the Road Safe Pothole Repair Project Method.
The time-saving and easily applied remedy is for shallow, damaged roads at depths of 75-100mm.
Project manager Malelo Mweemba says in the statement the research was prompted by the change in weather and traffic patterns, which are some of the challenges that affect the road infrastructure leading to road erosion.
“The use of the road safe pothole repair method has advantages over the current conventional shallow cold mix to medium damage repair,” he said.
“Number one is its affordability. It is easier to transport to site. It is easier to compact on-site and more workable.
“We are also able to teach people how to do it easily. It’s safer as well.
“There are no hazardous fumes that are getting into anybody’s lungs or anybody getting burned due to its heat.
“Another advantage is that it is Beta-accredited, meaning that we can use it on our roads.”
The project is focusing mainly on smaller potholes which are usually repaired using cold mixed asphalt material.
Mweemba said this is because the hot mix asphalt used to fix larger potholes is more expensive to source as well as transport.
“So here are the capabilities of hot mix asphalt: one, it’s a constant mixed supply that needs material and heavy plant. And this is quite costly in some situations, working at up to 135 degrees celsius, which is dangerous in many cases . . . ” he explained.
Mweemba added that this method is only temporary and cannot withstand everyday heavy traffic loads.
“It is affordable and easy to apply, but it is temporary and only lasts a season. Usually, this comes off within about . . . three months,” he said.