Morrisville, Pennsylvania-based Patch Management Inc. has come up with a new weapon against every driver's nuisance and every road maintenance crew's persistent dilemma — the Pothole Killer.
Actually known as the PK2000, but affectionately referred to as the Pothole Killer, this self-contained spray patching system quickly, efficiently and safely makes pothole and other road surface repairs.
According to Todd Robson, maintenance operations manager with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the department has been using the Pothole Killer on a trial basis for the last three years, increasingly incorporating it into its maintenance program. VDOT uses it everywhere, on primary and secondary road systems as well as subdivisions.
How does it work?High-velocity air is used to clean out the pothole of any debris. An application of liquid asphalt is then applied around the perimeter and in the bottom of the pothole. Next, a blend of stone and asphalt mix is used to fill the pothole up to the level of the existing asphalt. Finally, a dry stone mix is applied to the top to allow for immediate driving.
All operations are controlled from the cab, and repairs can be made anytime and in any kind of weather. According to Robson, his crews can repair a 12-inch-diameter hole in three minutes to six minutes, and they have repaired between 60 potholes and 100 potholes in one day. Furthermore, these repairs are longer lasting than traditional repairs.
"A cold mix — a drop and roll — just doesn't get the bond," says Robson. "It just pops out in the rain."
Robson adds that VDOT uses the Pothole Killer for preventative maintenance as well, using it on cracks in newer pavements to prevent further damage.
With the nation's roads becoming increasingly deteriorated and transportation budgets increasingly tight, the Pothole Killer is an effective and economical way to combat the insidious pothole menace.
