CSIR plan makes inroads into Gauteng’s pothole problem

Prevention is definitely better than cure when it comes to potholes. According to the CSIR, which last year compiled a guideline document that covers the causes, prevention and repair methods of potholes, regular maintenance can go a long way to solving what has become a costly problem. According to the South Africa Road Federation, potholes cost the country around R50 billion a year. The value of South Africa’s road network is R1 047 trillion, with the current road maintenance expenditure estimated to be around the R10 billion mark. The road maintenance backlog amounts to R100 billion, with annual road maintenance in need of R32 billion. “People are up in arms about the huge number and size of potholes. To respond to this, we combined current expertise and practical examples and compiled the technical guide on the causes of potholes, means of curbing and preventing their formation, and providing specific instructions for proper fixing of the seven different categories of potholes identified,” said Hans Ittmann, executive director of CSIR Built Environment. “There is no doubt that water is the primary cause of potholes. The combination of unusually wet conditions over long periods, excessive traffic and poorly maintained roads is a sure recipe for the development of potholes. To ‘safeguard’ us against that, authorities have to ensure preventative maintenance of roads and timely, correct repair of existing potholes,” he said. “The condition of our national roads compares with the best in the world. Sanral, owner of the national roads, has effective maintenance contracts in place. You may notice information boards along national roads where Sanral provides a contact number for the public to report potholes and poor road conditions. After a pothole report on a national road is received from the public, the holes are fixed properly within a matter of days,” says Dr Phil Paige-Green, author of the CSIR technical guidelines.