A new system to tackle pothole repairs has been launched in Hull.
Hull City Council recently adopted the Confirm On Demand system, a piece of digital software that means potholes can now be repaired in less than 24 hours.
Over the past few years, on average 2,000 potholes were repaired each year. However since this new system was implemented, the local authority has already seen a 30 per cent increase in the number of potholes that are being repaired, with more than 3,000 potholes repaired so far this year.
Highways supervisors have also been issued with portable devices that enable repairs and react to road conditions while out in the field. This integrated system allows for tighter scheduling, helping to reduce the amount of time it takes to arrange, prepare and respond to a pothole repair.
It also means that customers who have requested a pothole repair will be updated with live information once it has been completed.
Councillor Daren Hale, portfolio holder for regeneration and economic investment, said: “Improvements to council software have meant that once a request for a pothole repair is received, the team is able to plan more efficient scheduling of work zones by grouping repairs, saving time and money.
“This customer-focused system will also allow residents to be regularly updated on the status of the repair, so we encourage them to report any road defects to the authority as soon as possible.”
Potholes appear in the road when water seeps into the cracks, which then expands when frozen and eventually breaks away.
The repair crews now also have two hot boxes that store the latest type of bituminous material in optimum condition, meaning the materials can last up to four days in a workable condition by being kept at the correct temperature.
