Pothole repairs in hand

03-FEB-10

Issued by: Jeanette Hedley

North Tyneside's Elected Mayor has earmarked £50,000 to be spent on repairing potholes in the borough's roads

The Borough - like all other authorities across the country - has been inundated with reports from residents and motorists about the increased number of potholes and damage caused by the recent ice and snow.

Highways staff have been carrying out urgent inspections of all North Tyneside roads since the severe weather and additional resources have been given to the Highways Operations team so that they can complete the repairs identified from these inspections.

Initially nearly 800 potholes were identified and remedial work has been carried out within the Council's existing highways maintenance budgets. But the identification of potholes continues to increase.

To ensure a speedy and effective resolution to the problem Elected Mayor, Linda Arkley has allocated £50,000 to provide permanent repairs across the borough.

Coun Ed Hodson, Cabinet member for the Environment said: "The severe snow at the beginning of the year has left a legacy of pot holes to our roads.

"Our officers have responded immediately and by close inspection of the roads as the snow disappears - and that will continue as long as we suffer snow and icy conditions.

"The massive number of potholes recorded on our roads across the Borough will continue to be repaired as quickly as possible to ensure the safety of both residents and drivers."

"The Mayor's additional £50,000 will enable us to undertake permanent repairs as the damage reveals itself. This money will supplement the £1million road improvement budget soon to be presented to Area Forums."

Potholes are formed by water penetrating the surface of a road through cracks caused by traffic and surface aging.

When temperatures plunge, the water freezes, expands and causes the surface to rupture. When the ice melts the ruptured surface is swept away by passing traffic to form a pothole

Left untreated the road network will suffer major structural failure.