Navigating Pothole Season: The Importance of Timely Repairs with Cold Mix Asphalt Patch

April 2024

As the weather warms up and the snow melts away, spring brings a new challenge for drivers and cyclists alike - pothole season. These risky road hazards lurk around every corner, waiting to wreak havoc on unsuspecting vehicles. From minor dents and scratches to blown-out tires and damaged suspensions, potholes can cause significant damage and pose a serious safety risk. As motorists hit the road this season, they must be extra cautious when navigating their way around the city.

Potholes are indentations in paved surfaces, typically found on roads, parking lots, and highways. Motorists frequently travel over these paved areas, creating liability issues when potholes arise. The responsibility of repairing potholes falls on the property owners, including governments, business owners, and site managers. When a pothole forms, it is essential that the responsible party takes prompt action to perform the necessary repairs to mitigate hazards. To repair potholes, a cold asphalt patch, also known as cold mix, is required.

HOW DO POTHOLES FORM?

During the spring, potholes become a common issue on the roads after the harsh winter months. Potholes form as a result of freeze-thaw cycles. Water seeps through the cracks in the pavement, builds up, and softens the base of the road. As temperatures fluctuate, the water freezes and expands. As the ice expands, it pushes the pavement up. Once the water dries, a hole is left underneath the pavement. The constant movement of vehicles travelling over the impacted area causes the pavement to collapse and form a pothole. If potholes are left unrepaired, they can expand, causing significant damage to vehicles and increased safety hazards.

BENEFITS OF REPAIRING POTHOLES

Repairing small potholes may seem minor and unnecessary, but if left unaddressed, the issue will grow and create significant consequences over time.

Here are four reasons we recommend repairing potholes while they are small:

• Prevents Further Damage: As potholes expand, the damage done to the road infrastructure increases
• Cut Long-Term Expenses: The larger the pothole, the more expensive it is to repair. In severe cases, replacing the whole asphalt is needed, requiring substantial time and money.
• Improved Safety: By addressing potholes promptly, the risk of accidents, injuries, and vehicle damage decreases significantly.
• Enhance Aesthetics: Potholes in the pavement can deter drivers from the area, leading them to seek other destinations.

Big or small, with the right cold patch asphalt repair solution, fixing potholes is a simple and easy task.

Innovative's ProPatch® Cold Mix is a high-performance asphalt patching material designed to repair potholes, street edges, utility cuts, and large cracks. ProPatch® is an easy-to-apply, year-round permanent asphalt solution that remains workable at temperatures as low as 14˚F/-10˚C. This lets you repair those potholes early when they first appear in the colder temperatures, not having to wait until the temperatures are hot enough to use traditional hot mix.

Using our simple P.A.C. approach, ProPatch® is quick and easy to apply.

Once compacted, the repaired surface is open to traffic immediately and will remain flexible below the road surface to accommodate bridge deck or ground movement. Following the application, ProPatch® Cold Mix becomes a permanent part of the roadway.

BENEFITS OF REPAIRING POTHOLES

Although it is not always possible to prevent potholes from forming, keeping the paved area clean can be helpful. Monthly maintenance, such as removing debris, filling cracks, and sealing the pavement, can prevent water from seeping into the pavement and causing potholes.