More pothole teams hit the roads of East Yorkshire (From York Press)

More pothole teams hit the roads of East Yorkshire

8:55am Wednesday 9th January 2013 in News

Together with most of the UK, the East Riding has had its share of rain during 2012, what is now confirmed to be the second wettest year since records began in 1910.

Water can damage the highway network in numerous ways, by freezing and expanding within small cracks by being forced up by groundwater pressure from below or softening aggregates which form the foundations.

The damage contributes to the formation of potholes in footways and carriageways.

Since the beginning of the year, the council has doubled its pothole response teams to eight and inspections on its most important routes have also been increased to identify those areas in need of most attention.

The work follows the council’s recent response to property flooding in the village of Burton Fleming, near Bridlington, and several other villages across the authority.

Nigel Leighton, director of environment and neighbourhood services at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “The council is responsible for the maintenance of around 3,500 km of highway network and the authority takes a pro-active approach to the upkeep of its highways, through extensive surface dressing programmes and responds to hundreds of reports of potholes every year.”

Residents are asked to report potholes by phoning the highways customer care line on 0845 600 1666 or online.