[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″ offset=”vc_col-lg-1/5 vc_col-md-1/5 vc_col-xs-1/5″][us_image image=”77844″ size=”thumbnail” align=”left” style=”circle” has_ratio=”1″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/12″ offset=”vc_col-lg-4/5 vc_col-md-4/5 vc_col-xs-4/5″][vc_column_text]By Dr Peter Gangemi – Mayor of The Hills Shire Council[/vc_column_text][us_post_date][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Council responds to potholes during unrelenting rain period
With more wet weather forecast ahead, Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Peter Gangemi is urging residents to drive to conditions and be mindful of potholes which form during lengthy periods of rain.
“Requests to Council for potholes and road patching works has increased by 116 per cent over the last four months as a consequence of the weather we’ve been experiencing,” he said.
“This is consistent across Sydney, with other councils seeing more potholes across their road networks,” he added.
Potholes form when water infiltrates the asphalt. Asphalt is first laid as a stable and durable surface, but over time cracks form due to stresses caused by traffic and fluctuating surface temperatures (heating to cooling). Water can seep into these cracks and displace the road’s pavement layers, causing further cracking. Eventually, pieces of the road will break, creating a pothole.
Meanwhile, Sydney has received more rainfall in 2022 than any year on record.
The latest deluge pushed Sydney’s annual precipitation past its previous record set in 1950 to more than 2.2 metres.
With just over two months left in 2022, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has predicted more rain across the weekend thanks to a third consecutive La Nina – an ocean-atmosphere event that leads to above average rainfall.
Mayor Gangemi said Council crews and contractors are working diligently to respond to these requests as per Council’s policy and road maintenance procedures. However, the unrelenting rain is increasing the number of potholes on local roads.
“Our teams are responding to requests and carrying out repairs,” Mayor Gangemi said.
“Yet the constant rain, competing in a tight labour market for road contractors and the uptake in road repair requests has exacerbated this problem across Greater Sydney and NSW.
“I’m encouraging residents to use their best judgement, remain vigilant and to also take care on our roads, especially during heavy periods of rain,” Mayor Gangemi added.
Council uses a number of industry standard methods to fix potholes, including hot and cold mix asphalt, as well as road patching.
As the name implies, hot mix asphalt requires heating before installation. It’s a high-grade asphalt that is used for its strength, flexibility and its ability to repel water. Hot mix asphalt can only be laid during favourable weather conditions.
Cold mix asphalt is used mainly for repairs and can be used during wet conditions. This type of asphalt is used as a temporary measure, especially during poor weather as it lasts just a short period of time. This type of work is usually carried out in emergency circumstances and allows residents and visitors to continue using local roads.
Some roads which generate multiple or frequent potholes often undergo more substantial repairs that can only take place under dry conditions. This work is called a ‘road patch’ and requires a section of the road being cut out and replaced entirely with multiple layers of new asphalt. Locations requiring substantial patches are added to Council’s annual asphalt road patching program which is delivered in order of priority.
Residents can contact Council’s Customer Service Team on 9843 0555 or notify Council online via the ‘Report it to Council’ tab to report a pothole, fallen tree or any other Council-related enquiry at www.thehills.nsw.gov.au
They can also find further information on Council’s delivery, maintenance and infrastructure rollout in The Hills Shire Plan 2022-2023
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