I seen this pothole repair crew. What a waste of time and money. They try and pound semi hot or cold asphalt into the holes and the first little bit of water and a freeeze and the patches will pop right out of there. I give the crews credit the the numbskull who thought up the idea need to rethink this.

Perhaps the people at City hall looked into automating the garbage collection can look at this:

"How can a highway maintenance crew of one person make pothole repairs that last an average of 43 months--even when the work must be done in temperatures of -25 degrees Fahrenheit? Dickinson County, Michigan is doing just that with a self-propelled, spray-injected pothole patcher.

In an article called "Dickinson County Automates Pothole Repair," the January 1995 issue of Better Roads described the County's experience with their self-propelled pothole patcher. The new equipment is repairing potholes more effectively than traditional methods, saving the County money, freeing people to attend to other jobs, and improving safety for maintenance crews.

THE EQUIPMENT

The one-person pothole-patching operation is made possible by the self-propelled unit shown in the photograph below. A fully equipped patcher like this one cost the Dickinson County Road Commission just over $100,000 almost two years ago, and Superintendent Tim Hammill thinks it was a good buy. Hammill observed, "I never thought I could propose spending over $100,000 on a pothole patcher, but these days we have to look at equipment that will be cost-effective in the long run."

Hammill first saw the patcher at a convention, and he learned more about it when he talked with maintenance officials in Anchorage, Alaska, where three of the machines were already in use. He told the Reporter that recently when agencies in Minnesota were interested in the pothole patcher, representatives came to Dickinson County for a demonstration. They happened to show up when temperatures were -30 degrees F. They were concerned they would not see the machine at work because of the cold, but they were able to watch as pothole repair continued--at 30 below. The Minnesotans were so impressed they ordered three machines--that day.

Rosco Manufacturing Company of Madison, South Dakota makes the pothole patcher used in Dickinson County. Rosco estimates 200 to 250 units similar to Dickinson County's are operating across the United States. A representative from Rosco told the Reporter that more than 3,000 automated pothole-patching units from various manufacturers are now in service..."

http://www.usroads.com/journals/rmj/9704/rm970404.htm

nice work diplomat ....

Here are that patcher's specs .. apparently in works up to 0 degreee F

http://www.roscomfg.com/uploadedFiles/ra300patcher.pdf

Here is an other one ...

http://www.mastrad.com/patch.htm

Here is a research project from Oregon

http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TD/TP_RES/docs/Reports/ImproWinterPotholePatch.pdf

The key from my point of view is to get something which works for more that a few days.

Owl: "The key from my point of view is to get something which works for more that a few days. "

Well said! The key from my point of view is to get officials from City Hall to look at the new technology that is already available rather than repeat year after year the expensive and yet ineffective method that has been used up until now!

How can they be convinced that it is not very intelligent to keep doing it the wrong way but all the while expecting different results!

I didn't know Mr. Radloff has a private firm. But, quite frankly, if you have his email please forward the websites above to him as I really do not care how and by who(m) these potholes and cracked pavement problems are taken care of!

If the City can't/won't do it let a private contractor alleviate these atrocious conditions and the City must pay for it!

In the last Montreal municipal elections (according to CBC TV) cracks and potholes were the NUMBER ONE election issue. Montrealers are simply fed up to the gills and won't put up with it anymore!

Mr. Kinsley made a remark on the Meisner radio show a few years ago saying that "Prince George's road problems are well under control and Prince George has the least potholes of any city in the world with the same climate and population."

Are we to continue shaking and rattling along in our vehicles with the only consolation that there are perhaps worse conditions somewhere else?

Get on the job and get it done or step aside if you can't do it!

Ed: "Pretty hard to miss Diplomat. R. Radloff & Associates, conveniently located within walking distance of City Hall."

Thanks. Well, now the only thing we have to worry about is the usual inertia of those who make the decisions.