A new pothole patching machine is helping repair roads across #MiddletownRI. Watch a video showing the process from start to finish at Potholes online.
NEW POTHOLE PATCHER AT WORK IN MIDDLETOWN
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (DECEMBER 30, 2024) – Potholes keep the Middletown Department of Public Works busy every fall, winter and spring.
But this year, that job is going a little more high tech.
Recently, the town took delivery of new Cimline cracksealing and dura patcher machines to help speed up those repairs and make them last longer.
Deputy Public Works Director Scott McLeish said the town has had good luck so far with the machines, which are getting regular usage as weather allows.
“It’s done a really good job and we haven’t had to have nearly the same number of return visits,” McLeish said. “This is one of those cases where we’re definitely trying to work smarter not harder to get the job done.”
Every year, Middletown sets aside about $1 million to perform road repairs. While that sounds like a lot of money, it doesn’t get nearly the same mileage of roads that it did in the past.
As a result, McLeish and the town’s public works crews have to do repairs on the 90 miles plus of road across the community a lot more and make what the community has last that much longer.
Enter the Cimline machines, which were paid for with unused money out of the Fiscal 2024 snow removal budget. That means they didn’t cost taxpayers anything additional in the Fiscal 2024 budget and the cracksealer will pay for itself in one fiscal year.
The way dura patcher allows a two-person crew to first clean out the pothole with a dose of high volume, low pressure air.
Then, the team prepares the spot with a tacky material so when the patch is injected into the hole, it stays in place for years. From there, a light coating is applied to the area and it’s then reopened to traffic minutes later.
To watch a video of the process, visit https://mdl.town/Patching-Potholes online.
“There are spots where we’d have to go out and fill with cold patch every day,” McLeish said. “Not anymore. These machines save us time and resources and free us up for other work, so it’s a good thing all the way around.”
Document Link: https://mdl.town/NYCU-Patch
About Middletown
The Town of Middletown is a vibrant municipality located on Aquidneck Island, known for its scenic beauty, historic landmarks, diverse economy and strong sense of community. For more information about all we have to offer, visit MiddletownRI.gov online.
Media Contact
Matt Sheley
Public Affairs Officer
401-842-6543
msheley@middletownri.com