Sustainable technology sees more road repairs across West Northants

28 February 2025

New technology to fix potholes and other road repairs is delivering a range of benefits to highways across West Northamptonshire.

Following successful trials, West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) and its highways partner Kier Transportation introduced 5 Roadmenders, a JCB Pothole Pro, and Micropaver as part of their fleet in the last 18 months – machines which use new technology to improve the quality and speed of repairs while being more sustainable and reducing carbon.

• In the first year, highways teams have used the Roadmenders to complete 14,657m² of repairs. The equipment uses a new non-invasive, eco-friendly repair material called Elastomac which reduces the carbon footprint by an impressive 85% compared to traditional methods. The process recycles end-of-life waste tyres which would otherwise be destined for incineration.
• The JCB Pothole Pro machine repaired 30,480m2 of roads during 2024. This innovative piece of technology carries out road repairs four times faster than standard methods. Teams can cut the defect, crop the edges and clean the area with one machine
• A Micropaver was also added to the fleet in April 2024 which has made the process more efficient and improved the quality of repairs so they’re even longer lasting.

"We know how important the state of our roads and footways are to residents and the use of this innovative technology highlights our commitment to maintaining and improving the highways in West Northamptonshire in an even more efficient way.

“By using eco-friendly materials and innovative repair methods, we are not only enhancing the quality and safety of our roads but also aligning with our vision of becoming more sustainable.”Cllr Phil Larratt, WNC’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport

The modern technology is used to deliver a range of improvements and repairs to both carriageways and footways, including permanent patching, skid-resistant surface improvements, and pothole repairs. It also benefits operatives as it reduces the need for manual handling and the exposure to vibration.

“This innovative machinery supports our shared carbon reduction targets while offering a high-quality repair. It is also more cost-effective plus the speed of the repair is faster which means we can minimise disruption for residents and businesses.”Edith Shah, general manager at Kier Transportation

Our teams carry out regular inspections and maintenance to ensure our network is in good condition and you can support this by continuing to report a pothole or a problem on WNC’s app or at: https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/roads-and-paths-maintenance/report-potholes-or-highway-problem