"A severe pothole
season" is how Butler County Engineer Greg Wilkens characterized
the March aftermath of a long, cold, snowy winter. "The
pothole problem is extensive this year and motorists should use
caution," he advised. But County road crews are making the
most of sunny days and warmer temperatures. "On days when
it's not snowing, our snow and ice control crews have been filling
potholes, so we are keeping up with them pretty well."
A new piece of equipment
first utilized last year has made pothole patching a lot more
efficient. The new Dura
Patcher fills potholes with emulsified asphalts and aggregate
to make a permanent patch with a water repellent, solid asphalt
body. The completed patch requires no rolling or tamping and
can be driven over immediately so there is virtually no inconvenience
to motorists. The resulting patch also holds up better than traditional
cold mix patch, which tends to pop back out of the pothole.
While the Dura
Patcher does save time and money, Wilkens acknowledged that
he has had to increase his budget for pothole repairs from $50,000
to $75,000 this year. "The rough winter has had an impact
on our budget in terms of increased snow and ice control, and
even with spring right around the corner, we are still feeling
the financial sting from its aftereffects."
The pesky potholes
are a byproduct of harsh winter weather. The combination of salt,
plowing, and in particular, the cycle of freezing and thawing
is extremely hard on roadway surfaces.
Report A
Pothole
Motorists wishing to
report a pothole on a County-maintained road may contact
the BCEO Operations Department at 785-4157 or by email at webera@bceo.org. Wilkens stresses
that this is for County roads only. Residents and motorists wishing
to report potholes on township roads or city streets should contact
the appropriate city or township agency.
# # #
For more information contact:
- Chris
Petrocy, BCEO Public
Information Supervisor
- Greg
Wilkens, P.E., P.S.,
Butler County Engineer
Phone 513.867.5744 • Fax 513.867.5849
