Pilot scheme sees record number of road repairs made in Thurrock

A jet patcher shoots bitumen and stone into a pothole before sealing it with a dry aggregate (Credit: Thurrock Council)

Road workers have made a record number of repairs in Thurrock as part of a new pilot programme. 

They have been using a piece of equipment called a jet patcher to fill in cracks and potholes with asphalt. 

More than 1,900 repairs were completed, at half the usual cost, during the eight-week scheme. It was carried out by Thurrock Council in collaboration with Velocity. 

“This is truly fantastic work from our Highways Infrastructure team providing a far more cost effective and greener way to repair our roads and provide safer conditions for our drivers,” said Councillor Ben Maney. 

“The typical cost of a repair such as filling a crack or pothole is more than £60, but with this new technique we are looking at closer to half this cost, around £31. Furthermore the new approach, which has been refined over the years, will see half as much carbon emitted as the existing method as we continue to prioritise the safety of our environment.

“With this forward thinking and innovative approach we can take preventative measures to stop potholes in their tracks. The team are looking closely at the data, with the hope to run the programme again in Summer 2022.”

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