As if the long term bitter temperatures, icy roads and snow weren’t enough, now motorists have to try to avoid traversing into the tire-eating craters known as potholes.
And although places like Stafford Tire in Middletown couldn’t be busier, grumbling patrons are not happy about replacing tires, and sometimes rims as well, far sooner than their anticipated life span.
The public works departments, who didn’t get a break this winter, are as busy as tire places, if not busier.
After weeks of plowing, salting and clearing, state, county and municipal public works departments alike have now switched gears and have begun the next phase of post-winter repairs.
At the county level, where there are more than 1,000 lane miles of roadway, “There are nine Highway Division crews on County roads every day to look for and repair potholes,” said Freeholder Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the Department of Public Works and Engineering. “The highway crews are also responding to reports of potholes from police departments and residents that come in all hours of the day and night.”
To illustrate the severity of the pothole situation this year, NJDOT typically repairs about 180,000 potholes per year. Since last July, NJDOT has repaired more than 125,000 potholes, with the busiest pothole repair season just starting. The department expects to repair approximately 300,000 potholes this year.
Using permanent measures in their repair, the process calls for cutting the section of road pavement surrounding the hole with a high speed saw, then breaking the asphalt into smaller pieces with a jackhammer and recycling the smaller pieces for future use. The hole is then filled with recycled asphalt and compressed with a plate tamper or vibratory roller for a permanent repair.
“The approach of using recycled asphalt from other potholes and county road projects creates a tremendous savings for our taxpayers as the County,” Arnone said, “since it means the county only has to purchase limited amounts of asphalt for the thousands of potholes that are filled each year.” The collected asphalt is put into what is known as an asphalt recycler where it is heated and blended with additives and ready to be used for road repairs.
Residents can report a pothole on a county road by calling the Monmouth County Highway Division of the Department of Public Works and Engineering at 732-431-6550.
At the state level, the campaign to repair potholes has already started as well, according to Department of Transportation Commissioner Jamie Fox.
“This has been a brutal winter that has taken a heavy toll on our roads, but I want to assure New Jersey residents that we will spend whatever is necessary to make repairs as quickly as possible,” Fox said. “Our crews have done a tremendous job keeping the state’s highways clear from snow and ice this winter. Now they will turn their attention to repairing potholes to ensure New Jerseys roads are in good condition.”
To deal with potholes in the most aggressive and efficient manner, the government is allowing crews to close travel lanes where necessary during daytime hours, including during peak travel times for priority repairs. Where possible, crews will limit their daytime work hours to 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will try to avoid working in travel lanes carrying traffic in the peak direction during peak times. However, motorists might encounter maintenance crews making priority repairs any time of the day or night during this campaign.
The state’s usual pothole repair uses cold patch material, but the DOT is also using 13 state-of-the-art pothole-filling machines, which make a more durable repair than cold-patch. The pothole-filling machine is a truck that can heat a mix of asphalt and gravel before injecting the mixture into the pothole. These machines require just one person to operate, with another worker operating a safety truck.
“Using the pothole-filling machines allows NJDOT crews to cover a larger area more quickly and safely because the worker doesn’t have to get out of the truck,” Fox said. “It also provides a more lasting repair, which in the long run saves time and money.”
In addition to crews monitoring and reporting potholes that need repair, motorists are encouraged to report potholes by calling all 1-800-POTHOLE or going online at www.nj.gov/transportation. The department tries to respond quickly, especially to reports of potholes that create safety concerns based on their size and location.
In the local community, Atlantic Highlands’ problems are typical of what every community is encountering. Borough Administrator Adam Hubeny said this year has been more difficult than in the past, since the borough is still down two pieces of equipment, a roller and a tamper, destroyed during Super Storm Sandy. They are using cold patch for the deep potholes and encountering no problems, he said, but ideally every pothole should be milled, cut and cleaned before patching.
The borough has an annual road maintenance program in place, he continued, and JADS Contractors of South River, is on target on that program. Persons noticing potholes on their borough or township roads should contact their own municipal offices or public works departments.
If communities and the county could have their way, Hubeny said, all the roads would be concrete, since it has the ability to stand up so much better against the salt brine that is necessary to make the roads safe during the winter, but has the ability to seep through cracks, get below the surface and create the problems. However, the cost of concrete makes that alternative prohibitive. Residents noting potholes are municipal roads are urged to call their respective borough or township halls or public works departments. Under no circumstances should any calls be made to the 911 emergency line unless a true and immediate emergency actually exists, officials warn.
— By Muriel J. Smith
