The CiviLab at the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) is researching a road safe pothole repair method - a time-saving remedy to repair damaged roads caused by ageing and moisture that enters the underlying soil layers. The newly developed method has been used in Bloemfontein and Boshoff to improve the conditions of the roads.

Malelo Mweemba, the Project/Site Manager, said that the research was prompted by the change in weather and traffic patterns, which are some of the challenges that affect the roads infrastructure leading to road erosion.

“The use of the road safe pothole repair method has advantages over the current conventional shallow cold mix to medium damage repair. Number one is its affordability. It is easier to transport onto the site. It is easier to compact on-site and more workable. We are also able to teach people how to do it easily. It's safer as well. There are no hazardous fumes that are getting into anybody's lungs or anybody getting burned due to its heat. Another advantage is that it is Beta Accredited, meaning that we can use it on our roads,” added Mweemba.

“What we're focusing on mainly are smaller potholes, which are usually repaired using cold mixed asphalt material and where larger ones can be repaired more effectively using hot mix asphalt, which we want to sort of veer away from. So here are the capabilities of Hot Mix Asphalt. One, it's a constant mixed supply that needs material and heavy plant. And this is quite costly in some situations, the working of up to one hundred and thirty-five degrees celsius, which is dangerous in many cases. They are also climatic considerations which have been mentioned before, such as the heavy rains we've been having this year,” said Mweemba.

Mweemba added that this method is only temporary and cannot withstand everyday heavy traffic loads. “It is affordable and easy to apply, but it is temporary and only lasts a season. Usually, this comes off within about six to three months,” he added. The methods mostly used are tamping rods, and you find that this isn't the necessary comprehensive effort needed for you to have the right road density.

In partnership with CUTis, the CiviLab is currently working with private companies and have devised a solution called the Road Safe Pothole Repair Project Method. The time saving and easily applied remedy for shallow, damaged roads at depths of seventy-five to one hundred millimetres caused by ageing and moisture that enters the underlying soil layers.

The CUT CiviLab repair method is one of the ways the institution continues to use technological solutions to provide a positive social impact in the community.

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1. Research is also focused on repairing the potholes, as these factors can cause pothole repairs to go wrong, such as potholes being filled without being cut or cleaned.