Pothole trial begins as different repair methods tested on Banbury road
Council initiative seeks pothole solutions
A section of road in Banbury is being used to test various pothole repair methods, aiming to improve the effectiveness of future repairs.
Oxfordshire County Council has turned a 700-metre stretch of Wildmere Road Industrial Estate into a trial area, allowing nine different companies to test 15 methods of fixing potholes.
Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repair explained that the tests are intended to gather valuable evidence on what repair techniques work best:
"The impact of potholes on our roads this winter, not just in Oxfordshire but nationwide, has been unprecedented."
The ongoing trials reflect the council's commitment to exploring new approaches to road maintenance across its 3,000-mile network.
This event marks the second trial in Oxfordshire, following a previous test with seven methods in Steventon in 2023.
Among the repair techniques demonstrated are already-employed methods in Oxfordshire, as well as new technologies sourced by the council’s contractors, M Group.
Richard Lovewell from M Group said, "We always are fighting new potholes," describing their work as "a never-ending cycle" due to the constant need to repair 1,500 potholes a week during winter.
Despite this challenge, Lovewell expressed enthusiasm for the trial event, saying it provides a unique opportunity to test materials for their durability in real-world conditions.
The performance of the repairs in Banbury will be monitored over a two-year period, with results compared to identify the most effective pothole solutions.