Pothole Pro 'here to stay' after successful Lincolnshire trial
A high-tech pothole-busting machine that has become a familiar sight on Lincolnshire’s roads is here to stay after a successful trial, councillors have been told.
LCC Highways has given the green light to the “Pothole Pro” following an intensive eight-month trial across the county’s road network, with officers reporting clear improvements in efficiency, safety and service.
The bright yellow machine, part of contractor Balfour Beatty’s fleet, has been put through its paces on a wide range of roads – from rural lanes to busy urban routes – and will now remain in use.
During the trial period, the Pothole Pro tackled more than 1,200 jobs across over 300 locations, handling repair patches ranging from 5m² to 30m². Despite time lost travelling between sites, it exceeded expectations, averaging 64m² of repairs per day – above its 60m² target.
A report to councillors said the machine is up to five per cent more efficient than traditional pothole repair methods used in Lincolnshire.
Coun David East, executive member for highways, welcomed the decision, saying it was based firmly on evidence.
“I am delighted that the officers have made this decision about the Pothole Pro based on the hard facts of a strenuous trial,” he said.
“As the administrative party for the council, we have not been involved in this trial other than to be the recipients of the data collated by the Highways team.
“But we have been very clear that the Pothole Pro was something we wanted to try in a proper, meaningful trial to see if there was a benefit to be had for our roads.
“Now it’s clear that there is a benefit, and this will help to continue the work we are putting in to making the Lincolnshire road network better.”
Tom Gifford, the council’s client and contract manager, told the Highways Scrutiny Committee the machine had performed strongly throughout.
“The Pothole Pro has operated very well throughout the trial and that has come about not only through using it in a way more suited to the roads and distances we face covering in our county, but also because of planning and a level of understanding that came about over the trial,” he said.
“This machinery is a very effective delivery mechanism for repairing roads compared with previous equipment and there are further significant health and safety improvements for our crews which greatly reduce personal safety risks during repair works.”
An earlier, shorter nine-week trial in 2021 – which focused only on rural roads – had suggested the machine was not cost-effective. However, this latest county-wide study has provided a broader picture and produced markedly different results.
Jonathan Evans, head of highways client, said the extended trial had given the council confidence to move forward.
“We are always looking at new and innovative ways to improve the service we provide,” he said.
“This trial has helped us understand where the Pothole Pro can add value, and we will continue to explore further opportunities to enhance our repair methods with other new technologies and strategies in the future.”
The machine has also shown strong results on drought-damaged roads, using its adjustable planning head to cut clean edges into cracked surfaces, allowing crews to carry out more effective and longer-lasting repairs.