Doing Potholes a Little
Differently This Year… Mayor
Menino Launches Innovative Pothole Filling Pilot as Part of
SpotHoles Campaign
City to Test New Solutions Such as
Silly Putty-like Substance and “Green” Materials to Defeat Potholes
Boston’s commitment to defeat the scourge of potholes has lead it to
develop the nation’s most innovative tools to detect those craters
such as Citizens Connect and Street Bump. Now, that commitment is
leading it to test innovative solutions to fill potholes. As part of
Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s “SpotHoles” campaign to report and fill
potholes, the Public Works Department will be piloting three unique
pothole filling solutions. Those solutions include a filling
material based out of silly putty and a green, 100% recyclable
material.
“I expect our city to innovate constantly to better serve
Bostonians” said Mayor Menino. “Potholes are a major menace to
drivers. We are conducting this pilot test because we believe that
these innovative solutions may offer longer-lasting, more
environmentally friendly solutions than traditional pothole filling
materials.”
Using these materials, Public Works Department crews will fill
potholes on different street types, ranging from major truck routes
to quiet residential roads. Over the next six months, the repairs
will be monitored to determine their longevity. In addition to
longevity, the new materials will be evaluated using the following
criteria: ease of use for road repair crews, environmental benefits,
costs, and logistical concerns.
The three materials to be tested are Hole Patch, Aquaphalt, and UPM.
Hole Patch utilizes a silly putty like material in a Kevlar bag that
is placed in potholes. City workers simply place a Hole Patch bag in
the pothole to make it safe for drivers. They return when weather
conditions improve to make a permanent repair. Because Hole Patch
advertises as easy to apply, it can in theory save the city costs on
temporary repairs.
Aquaphalt advertises as an eco-friendly and durable solution to
potholes. Aquaphalt contains a vegetable oil based binder, which
contains no VOCs (volatile organic compounds), a contributor to air
pollution in Boston. Many repairs with Aquaphalt last beyond ten
years, much longer than the industry standard for pothole patching
materials.
UPM advertises as a “permanent” pothole repair material designed to
outlast the surrounding pavement. The product is designed to focus
on maximum survivability of repairs. UPM is 100% recyclable and
contains well below all VOC and other Massachusetts regulation
limits.
“The Public Works Department takes innovation seriously. We always
seek out ways to improve the services we deliver to Boston’s
residents. This pilot is a great opportunity to experiment with new
solutions to make our roads smoother” said Joanne Massaro,
Commissioner of Public Works.
The pilot of part of Mayor Menino’s “SpotHoles” campaign. The
campaign encourages residents to assist the Public Works Department
in its annual quest to fill potholes created by the cold, snowy
winter. To date, nearly 1,000 potholes have been reported and filled
since the campaign’s launch March 13.
