Roadmasters head out to tackle potholes on rural roads

Shropshire Council will further step up its efforts to improve the county’s roads over the next few weeks as the council’s Roadmaster vehicles tackle potholes on rural roads.

Two Roadmaster vehicles operate across Shropshire during the spring and summer months. The Roadmasters are specialised tools designed for road maintenance, particularly for fixing potholes and other imperfections through a spray injection patching technique.

David Vasmer, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and environment, said:

“We are determined to get on top of the pothole problem, which has been made worse by the recent wet and cold weather – a situation faced by other councils across the country

“The Roadmasters help us to repair potholes quickly to a high standard, and they therefore make a huge difference to our rural roads.

“Along with the work of our pothole teams, and our work to surface dress and resurface roads across the county, the Roadmasters will play a big role in our efforts to reduce the backlog of pothole repairs.

“People can also help us by reporting any potholes that they spot.”

See a Roadmaster in action in this video.

The Roadmasters first prepare the area and then inject a blend of aggregate (small stones or chippings) and binder into the defect at high velocity.

The repair is compacted and sealed with a surface dressing. This approach aims to be efficient, economical, and to create a long-lasting repair, while reducing both disruption and costs in comparison to conventional methods.

By sealing cracks and tackling minor defects, the Roadmaster can help prevent new potholes forming.

To report a pothole use the FixMyStreet app or visit the Shropshire Council website – www.shropshire.gov.uk/highways.