New Roadmaster vehicle tackles potholes in the Much Wenlock and Broseley areas

A new specialist Roadmaster vehicle has this week been tacking potholes in the Much Wenlock and Broseley areas.

And on Wednesday (6 June 2018) David Turner, Shropshire Councillor for Much Wenlock, and Simon Harris, Shropshire Councillor for Broseley, joined the Roadmaster and its driver to watch it repair potholes on The Avenue near Benthall Hall.

John Link from Kier explains the pothole repair process to councillors David Turner (centre) and Simon Harris (right)

Operated by Kier – Shropshire Council’s highways contractor –  the Roadmaster uses compressed air to blow water or dirt out of a pothole that needs repairing and then fill it with hot bitumen and chippings.

The repair is compacted by a roller and sealed with a layer of surface dressing – meaning a better quality of repair.

Two Roadmasters are currently operating in the Shropshire Council area.

Simon Harris said:

“I’m from a trucking background and appreciate the technology that has driven a machine like this to be developed – a one man operated pothole filling machine. The tech inside the cab allowing its precise application of water based tar and crushed stone is ingenious.

“You can tell as well from the driver his smiles are actually real, he is really happy in his work, and even though he’s under pressure to keep up the pace, the long hours he’s working are not a chore.

“Fixing potholes around the smaller roads of the county is challenging at best, and having a machine and driver that are capable of working hard for Shropshire Council is the best possible route to a successful conclusion.”

Meanwhile, Shropshire Council’s highways contractor Kier also have more than 20 crews out across the county every day treating the high number of potholes on the county’s roads.

For more information about Shropshire Council and Kier’s work to repair potholes – and to report a pothole – visit shropshire.gov.uk/potholes