Potholes and Cold Patch: A Practical Road Repair Solution

March 2024

Potholes are a frustrating and all-too-common problem for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. These pesky road hazards form due to weather, water infiltration, and heavy traffic. They can cause vehicle damage, increase accident risks, and lead to expensive repairs if ignored.

Why Do Potholes Form?

Have you noticed an increase in potholes on the roads this winter? The rise of potholes is linked to the increase in snowfall and the low temperatures we are experiencing this year.

Potholes start to form when water seeps into cracks in the road surface. As temperatures drop, the water freezes and expands, causing the pavement to weaken. When traffic passes over these weakened areas, the asphalt crumbles, forming a pothole. The more freeze-thaw cycles occur, the worse the potholes get. This process explains why more potholes form in the winter due to the large amount of water from melted snow and ice.

The Importance of Fixing Potholes Quickly

Delaying pothole repairs can create problems. Small cracks and holes can rapidly grow, leading to greater safety hazards and more expensive repairs. Fixing potholes as soon as they appear offers several benefits:

1. Enhances safety: As the property owner, you are responsible for repairing your property and could be liable for damage caused by unaddressed potholes. Addressing minor potholes helps reduce the risk of accidents and injuries.
2. Prevents further damage: Small potholes quickly expand due to traffic and weather. Timely repairs stop them from getting out of control.
3. Saves money: Fixing potholes while still small is significantly less expensive than larger-scale surface reconstruction, which may be necessary if left unrepaired.
4. Improves appearance: Well-maintained roads and parking lots look better and contribute to the overall aesthetics of the area.

The Cost of Potholes

Potholes are more than just a nuisance. They have financial consequences for drivers, municipalities, and property owners. The economic burden of potholes is presented in vehicle repair costs, road maintenance expenses, and even liability cases.

For drivers, hitting a pothole can result in costly vehicle damage. Common issues caused by potholes include:

1. Tire damage – Potholes can cause punctures, bulges, or tire blowouts.
2. Suspension and alignment problems – Repeated impacts with potholes can misalign wheels and damage shocks and struts.
3. Rim damage – Severe potholes can bend or crack a vehicle's wheels.
4. Under car damage – Low-clearance vehicles risk scraping or breaking components underneath, such as exhaust systems.

AAA studies show that American drivers spend over $3 billion annually on pothole-related vehicle repairs, with individual repair costs ranging from $250 to over $1,000 per incident.

Potholes and road defects are a significant drain on municipal budgets. Municipalities in the U.S. collectively spend billions of dollars each year on road repair and maintenance. In New York City alone, $7.3 million was spent on road maintenance repairs in the winter of 2024. Cities prioritizing preventive strategies, such as sealing small cracks before developing into potholes, can see reduced road maintenance costs.

Further, municipalities, counties, and property owners can be held liable for damage and injuries caused by unmaintained roads. If authorities fail to repair potholes promptly, they may face lawsuits and compensation claims, diverting funds from other essential services.

Dangers and Risks of Potholes

Potholes present serious hazards to road users. These dangers can cause accidents and injuries that may lead to lawsuits.

Common Risks:

1. Sudden jolts from potholes can cause drivers to lose control and increase the risks of collisions.
2. Deep potholes can result in tire blowouts.
3. When cyclists hit a pothole, they can lose control, leading to falls and injuries.
4. Uneven surfaces can cause pedestrians to trip and fall.
5. Potholes create hazardous conditions for individuals with mobility impairments.

To learn more about the risks of potholes, read CAA's article: https://caaneo.ca/magazine/drive/how-do-ontarios-worst-roads-affect-you/ .

How can Potholes be Repaired?

Potholes can be repaired using various methods. One of the most common and efficient techniques is cold patch asphalt repair. Cold patch repair is a quick and cost-effective solution for fixing potholes, especially in colder temperatures.

Cold patch asphalt is a pre-mixed, ready-to-use solution that can be applied to potholes without the need for heating equipment. Unlike hot mix asphalt, which requires warm temperatures to set properly, cold patch works in all weather conditions - making it ideal for winter repairs.

Innovative Surface Solutions offers high performance ProPatch® Cold Mix in bulk or 50lb (22kg) bags. ProPatch® is designed for year-round, permanent pothole repair. It remains flexible and easy to apply, even in freezing temperatures.

Why use a high-performance cold-mix product like ProPatch® over conventional cold-mix asphalt repair products?

1. Easy to apply: Pour the mix into the pothole and compact it using a hand tamper or your vehicle's tires.
2. Works in all weather: Stays pliable at temperatures as low as 14°F (-10°C).
3. Immediate usability: Roads can be reopened to traffic right after application.
4. Cost-effective: Long-lasting and permanent solution, reducing the need for repeat repairs.
5. Durable: Provides a solid, lasting fix for potholes, utility cuts, and other road damage.

How to Apply ProPatch® Cold Mix

Using ProPatch® is simple with this three-step P.A.C. approach:

Putting ProPatch® to the Test

In August of 2023, a pothole began to form in our company parking lot. With no time to spare, we turned to ProPatch® for a quick and easy fix. Using the P.A.C approach, ProPatch® was applied to the pothole and ready to be opened to traffic in under 50 seconds.

Look at what it looked like immediately after the area was treated and how it has held up nearly two years later.

Almost two years later, the ProPatch® application has remained sound and in the hole. It has had two winters' worth of freeze-and-thaw cycles on it, and this past winter sure was a doozy with 16 snow events and over 50 inches of snow! The integrity of the patched hole remains solid. There was no popping out of the material and no further degradation of the area, things you would see with a conventional cold mix.

ProPatch® is a high-performance solution that stands apart from traditional mixes. With ProPatch®, the material stays put in the pothole, delivering lasting results and saving both time and money. It is a permanent solution, so you do not need to fix it again.

How to Prevent Potholes from Forming

Regular maintenance is key to keeping potholes at bay. Property owners and municipalities should inspect roads frequently for cracks or damage. Early intervention, such as sealing small cracks, helps prevent potholes from forming and extends the life of the road surface.

Conclusion

Potholes are an ongoing challenge, but cold patch asphalt offers an easy, cost-effective fix. Whether you're a property owner or part of a city maintenance team, addressing potholes quickly improves road safety and longevity. ProPatch® Cold Mix provides a reliable, year-round solution to keep roads smooth and safe, regardless of season.