Laois County Council have been urged to move towards the use of hot macadam and away from traditional methods to maintain the County’s road network.
The call came from Cllr Padraig Fleming at the April meeting of the Graiguecullen-Portarlington Municipal District.
Cllr Fleming called for Laois County Council to “consider the use of hot macadam in pothole repairs rather than cold tar and chip.”
The Fianna Fáil Cllr said “the hot macadam will have a longer lifespan in view of the weather conditions over the last six months.”
Mr Tom Drennan, Area Engineer said: “Laois County Council currently utilise hot liquid bitumen in combination with chippings and cold delayed set material to carry out pothole repairs.
“These repair methods, in general, seal the opening and preserve the road surface.
“The continuous wet weather over the last 8 months aligned with the combination of frosty weather over the winter has created the perfect conditions for the formation of potholes on the road network which has placed pressure on maintenance operations throughout the country.
“Laois County Council will review the request for the use of this material in the context of capacity, efficiency and cost.
Cllr Fleming said the hot macadam would be “a game-changer for the future,” adding: “What we are using at the moment is not staying in the road, it’s being washed out.”
However, Mr Drennan said the additional work and additional staff needed for a “hot-box” option would mean that “only a fraction of the work” getting done.
Cllr Brennan refuted this claim, saying “there is no efficiency” from the current methods, because the same roads are being repaired “time and time again.”
Cllr Brennan called for more staff to be hired and supported Cllr Fleming’s motion to move towards the hot macadam option.
Cllr Fleming went on to call on the County Council to repair Shanragh Bridge in Wolfhill “in the interest of health and safety”
Mr Drennan said the Council have inspected this bridge and will initiate the remedial works required.
Cllr Fleming concluded by asking for jet-wash cleaning of the gullies and drains along the R430 from the Applegreen Station, Killeshin towards St Fiacc’s National School, Graigeucullen.”
Mr Drennan said the Council has commenced a programme of gully cleaning which includes these areas.
