Durban - It is crucial that the correct procedure is applied when fixing potholes for quality repairs according to the managing director of Bafenyi Asphalt Otsile Mpela.
Mpela was quoted in a statement on Sunday by the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral).
Mpela cited poor workmanship as one of the greatest obstacles to achieving quality pothole fixing and edge-break repairs.
“It is imperative that the correct procedure is applied. The first thing to do is to develop a checklist of the equipment and tools required, including good quality cold asphalt,” he says.
He further explained that in the execution phase, a concrete saw is used to cut out the existing asphalt around the pothole or edge-break.
“A proper square cut is required if you are patching a pothole,” he said.
Mpela said after cutting and preparing, it is important to use SS60 primer, which serves as a glue to hold the cold-asphalt and base together.
“You can use a hard-broom to spread it around and cover the whole exposed area. Leave it for three to five minutes before you apply your asphalt, which is spread around with a rake,” he said, adding that “While you are compacting, the poured asphalt will start to go down. Keep pouring asphalt until it is level with the existing surface.”
A five to 10-minute compacting period follows, added Mpela.
Earlier this month, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said reporting potholes via the Sanral app will ensure that Operation Vala Zonke, the National Department of Transport’s pothole repair campaign spearheaded by Sanral, delivers on its promise to fix potholes on all SA roads.
The app is available on IOS and Android phones.
Sanral app project manager Andrew Mac Kellar said technical glitches in the registration and sign-in process as well as the “select an issue” tab have been ironed out and the app is now running on both platforms.
“The pothole reporting function is running smoothly now, although we are still working on the feedback function. The important thing is that potholes are being reported to the maintenance teams concerned, and we are streamlining that process further,” said Mac Kellar.
Sanral said Operation Vala Zonke is quickly gaining momentum as reports pour in daily on the app.
Sanral Western Region manager Randall Cable, said while poor maintenance is often cited as the main cause of potholes, the damage caused to roads by heavy vehicles, especially overloaded vehicles, is a major contributing factor.
“Heavy vehicle using roads which were not designed to carry such loads, is a serious concern. Overloaded heavy vehicles cause the greatest amount of damage to roads, even in a single instance of transgression. A single overloaded axle and associated wheel pressures that are above the permissible limits, will have a detrimental impact on the asset value of the road, causing longer term damage of which potholes are one of the symptoms,” he said.