“In Bridgeport, we’re using innovative technologies to repair our roads quicker and more efficiently following a long, difficult winter making our streets safer for those who live and work in the city. Bridgeport is getting better every day, thanks in large part to the efforts of our crews who are working hard to improve our roads.” – Mayor Bill Finch
Bridgeport, Conn. (March 28, 2015) - As part of Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch’s continued efforts to make Bridgeport better every day, public works crews have been repairing roads and fixing potholes throughout Bridgeport following an incredibly difficult winter that wreaked havoc on the city’s streets. So far this season, crews have already repaired nearly 2,000 potholes.
Bridgeport has once again enlisted the Pot-Hole Killer, an innovative system that is quicker, safer and more environmentally friendly than traditional crew-based efforts to help repair roads in the Park City.
Along with the Pot-Hole Killer, Bridgeport is also using a Durapatcher, a pothole repair solution that uses spray injection technology. Durapatcher is a cost efficient and effective repair method that allows you to fill more potholes in a day with less labor.
The Pot-Hole Killer can fill 250 potholes in one day, compared to the 75 to 85 a crew could fill without the technology.
“We want to make sure we are doing substantial repairs that are permanent,” said Jorge Garcia, the director of Public Facilities. “The Pot-Hole Killer has been a game changer.”
In addition to the Pot-Hole Killer, the city is using an asphalt reclaimer that heats and grinds old millings collected when roadways are resurfaced, combines it with used vegetable oil and creates hot asphalt.
Garcia said the city is moving away from cold patch, which is a temporary fix and leaves workers refilling the same pothole.
“This is completely green technology, and saves the city money,” he said.
Buying hot asphalt costs about $100 per ton, but the city can produce it itself for about $22 per ton. This winter alone, Public Facilities has used about 90 tons of hot asphalt made in the reclaimer.
“In Bridgeport, we’re using innovative technologies to repair our roads quicker and more efficiently following a long, difficult winter making our streets safer for those who live and work in the city,” said Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch. “Bridgeport is getting better every day, thanks in large part to the efforts of our crews who are working hard to improve our roads.”
Residents can report a pothole directly to the city’s Roadway Maintenance department using the BConnected smartphone app, calling the BConnected hotline at (203) 576-1311 or online at www.bridgeportct.gov/bconnected.