“Hi-Viz” pothole to be trialled
Added on Sunday, March 7th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments
“Hi-Viz” pothole to be trialled
A new road maintenance technique designed by students in Italy could make pot holes easier to spot – meaning that road users aren’t put at risk while damage road surfaces are awaiting repair.
The “high visibility” pot hole could, campaigners claim, save councils thousands in compensation claims to repair damaged vehicles and make roads safer for motorcyclists and other road users who may be vulnerable to damaged road surfaces.
The “Street Safe Initiative”, devised by Milan Polytechnic students Domenico Diego and Cristina Corradini, comprises a brightly-coloured layer of asphalt that is laid a few inches beneath the surface of the road. As pot-holes develop, the layer becomes visible, making it easier for road users to see the damage, particularly in poor light.
The unique design will be trialled later this year in Rho, a small town close to Milan, to determine if the project is viable and cost effective, after which Diego plans to market the product across Europe.
“We have compared the road surface to the human skin – when we are wounded, we start to bleed,” said Diego. “So our idea is to put a layer of yellow asphalt beneath the tarmac, which appears and creates a high chromatic contrast that is visible from a distance.
“This way, the potholes are signalled as they appear and road users have enough time to react safely.”
The trial in Italy will help Diego evaluate the cost implications of his design and its production across Europe, although some are already sceptical as to whether the idea is viable long-term.
“It’s a novel idea but it’s not the right solution for the UK right now,” claimed Mike Conway, Managing Director of highway maintenance and construction firm, FM Conway. “To make layers of tarmac stick together we use a bituminous coating that acts as a glue and you’d have to go right back to the manufacturing stage and work out how to make it bright yellow.
“We should be looking at how to reduce costs by doing the job right in the first place, rather than creating expensive solutions that only have an effect once the pothole is already there.”
Loading ...
No Comments