Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/846046
EquipmentWorld.com | July 2017 55 P otholes are the universal bane of motorists across the country. They're also among the top complaints public works and transportation agencies receive from the public. Their presence is so ubiquitous that offi cials are using a variety of methods to manage pothole reporting and tracking. They're also extending their repair efforts be- yond the old "two guys and bag of cold patch" approach. Pothole blitz Many cities conduct what's been collectively called a "pothole blitz," which is usually held in the spring. These bursts of repair activity typically happen over a short period, just a few days, with the emphasis on patching as many potholes as possible. Earlier this year, Indianapo- lis patched 900 potholes over four days, beating the goal public works offi cials had set for 700 potholes. Buffalo, New York, held two blitzes this year to tackle its potholes. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) holds its own version of a blitz, called the Pothole Patrol. "It is typically held during the month of March, but it is sometimes shifted depending on the type and severity of our winter," says MoDOT State Maintenance Engineer Becky Allmeroth. "We ask the public to help us identify pothole lo- cations using a variety of tools and then we make every effort to have the pothole repaired within 24 hours." Potholes are one the agencies top priorities, she adds: "A pothole, if left unattended, can cause signifi - cant damage to vehicles, can cause additional damage to the roadway and can create a serious safety concern if a vehicle is damaged or when drivers swerve to avoid the pothole." MoDOT's yearly pothole budget is in the $15 million to $16 million range, and on any given day in March, Allmeroth says, it's not unusual to have 300 pothole patching crews working on the state's roads. Though the agency can provide these fi gures, it gave up on estimat- ing the actual number of potholes repaired. "We quit try- ing to count our number of potholes several years ago," Allmeroth adds. The city of Des Moines, Iowa, repairs roughly 7,000 potholes each year, according to Sara Thies, street main- tenance administrator for the Des Moines Department of Public Works. Although the city does not have a specifi ed budget for pothole repair, it does make fi xing them one of its major priorities. "All potholes are patched within two business days after we receive notice," Thies adds. Knowing where potholes are located is a top challenge for states and municipalities, so agencies provide multiple ways for the public to report them. Des Moines will take notifi cations by phone, email, website and smartphone app, Thies reports. MoDOT also provides this, as well as an integration into work orders. "We utilize a customer service database where all re- ported roadway problems are reported and then sent out to the local maintenance building," Allmeroth explains. "Once repaired, the local crews will close out the report." A simple pothole patch is one thing, but more extensive road damage calls for a more complex approach. "We utilize an ARAN (Auto- matic Road Analyzer) van to help determine the condition of the roadway," Allmeroth says. "That paired with an IRI (International Roughness Index) and the number of customer calls help prioritize the timing and type of treatment a roadway will receive." Thies says number and proximity help determine the approach. "If the potholes are close and fre- quent, we will do a mill and inlay in the area," she says. "We usually limit mill and inlays to 300 feet in length. More than that and it should be com- pletely resurfaced." Equipment use Allmeroth says MoDOT uses multiple types of pothole patching equipment across the state, with most being trailer mounted. "The most common machines we have are Falcon Pot- hole Patchers, Spaulding Pothole Patchers, and Weiler TT250 Pull Tack Tanks," she says. "If the repairs require any larger equipment, then we typically contract out the repairs." Thies says Des Moines uses Bergkamp patch heaters, and kettles with three-person operations. This equipment use has been pretty standard for both agencies, and MoDOT in particular doesn't have plans to make changes. However, Allmeroth says the department Virginia DOT crew member repairing a pothole. (Virginia DOT)