Donegal's potholes and why technology might have the answer!

It's the dreaded time of the year when the scourge known as the pothole makes its presence known on roads all through the county waiting to attack tyres and devastate suspensions.

It is perhaps the most common, and certainly among the most loathed of traffic hazards. It jars the bones of the driver and rattles vehicles down to their lug nuts.

Solutions are few and far between and unless Donegal County Council decides to circle each of them with fluorescent paint, we're stuck with them for the foreseeable future.

Then again help might be on the way in the shape of new technology - a specialised pothole repair machine!

The matter was raised at Monday's meeting of the council when Cllr Patrick McGowan asked why these machines were not used during cold wet winter months, especially on roads in the east of the county which, he claimed, were more susceptible to freezing temperatures causing damage to road surfaces.

He added using cold deferred-set tar during wet and frost was not the solution.

He was told by the roads and transportation director, Bryan Cannon that the method selected to repair potholes needs to consider a number of factors including road type, the availability of various materials, weather conditions including future plans for the road in question.

"The Roads Section is aware of the variety of equipment being used in some other local authorities which can be used for repair of defects in pavements.

"Donegal County Council trialed an alternative item of equipment in 2022 with a view to evaluating its performance. This trial proved successful in particular in relation to road repair in advance of restoration maintenance activities. This trial has informed plans for 2023 and a broader pilot is planned this year," he said.

Cllr Michael McMahon also raise his concerns about the dreaded potholes and appealed to the council to start using the machine again saying it would save them money in the long term.

"We're losing money by throwing cold mix into the potholes. It doesn't work and it doesn't last. Can we stop using the cold mix and get the machine back into action? It would help fix all types of roads," he said.

Motorists await the outcome of the next series of trials.

Could this be the end of the pothole as we know it?