why does patched potholes gave away within days?

[lachiplo]

i really appreciate the effort by the locals who are constantly patching the potholes down my place, but any idea why does these patched potholes gave away within days? and often the pothole became larger and deeper .

is this due to the composition or mix or whatever that they are using? just find it really strange that it was all good for a day or so and then the hole just reappeared again

[wolf5370]

How are they patching it? Around my way they usually just fill with gravel and maybe skim with concrete afterwards. The concrete cracks quickly and the loose aggregate acts like a grinder as traffic passes over it - making the holes bigger (wear and vibration damage). Its a cheap fix that can never be more than temporary.

In the road outside my house they replaced a drain cover (just a sink away - not sewage etc). They put in a metal rimmed concrete lid. Unfortunately it was an inch all around too small. It was still big enough not to fall in, so they left it like that. I could hear it wobble every time a car drove over it - so one evening I went out and forced in some small rocks to fill the gap - all was quiet for 2 days until someone turned up and pulled out all the rocks I put in (they were below the lid depth so not a danger to car tyres). Noise came back. I did this twice more before giving up. After just a month or so the lid was badly compromised, not only that though the counter sunk hole the lid is supposed to fit in was misshapen and the metal rim hanging off (and sometimes lifting up). Traffic cops put cones around it - then a week later took them back. Then some guys came back and took the (now completely crumbled) twist of concrete and steel reinforcement bars away (actually they dumped them beside the hole) - put two cones either side and one in the hole (no idea why the last one) and it has remained so for the last 6 months. I trim the grass that now grows from it when I cut my lawn (it grows three feet or more tall - in the road!).

The guys they hire just have no idea about structural stress and strain or vibration damage and simply do the minimum to patch up the issue at the time - I guess when some big-wig's Merc goes down it, then it will be fixed!

[taotoo]

I guess when some big-wig's Merc goes down it, then it will be fixed!

Near me there was a road that had been resurfaced a few months ago. A big-wig was due to be driving down it, so wherever there were the tiniest of imperfections, they decided to 'repair' them.

A few weeks later, the 'repairs' have all turned into potholes. Why couldn't they just leave well alone...

[samran]

If you did something properly the first time there would be a much decreased need for maintenance contract to be let. Ergo, less tea money to pay to the local head of procurement.

[Mooner]

Because they dont do it properly. The edges are weak and instead of using a disc cutter to cut a clean, strong edge they just throw tarmac or concrete in the hole.

Then it rains and the water finds the weak spots and its even worse than before.

[boomerangutang]

On my road, there are sand and gravel trucks going up and down. One section has large red municipal signs telling them to use a detour instead (there are orphanages down that stretch, and kids playing). Do they do so? I'll let you answer that.

Because Thai truckers get paid by the load, and not by the day, they go as fast as they can. Repairs to the ripped up road are Mickey Mouse at best; some sand mixed with a few rocks. Two days later, the pothole isbigger.

It's indicative of Thailand as a whole: do a quick fix, so it appears to work for the moment, and don't care what happens after that. Appearances over reality.

[cpofc]

Australia is a vast country and road maintenance, or lack of it, especially in the county, used to be notorious years ago. it was the butt of many jokes. It was a job which attracted a certain kind of bloke.

One morning In a small outback Australian town, the 4 man 'Road Gang' set out from the Council Yard to continue their monotonous daily grind.

Reaching their designated area for that day, they pull off the road under the shade of a big old Gum tree, where they eventually climb down from the truck, roll a smoke, light the kerosene stove, put the 'Billy' on and brew up.

After finishing up their customary, extended, 'Smoko', they decide to get to work, only to discover that the bloke back at the Council Depot, the man responsible for loading up the truck that morning, has failed to put their shovels, maddocks, rakes and other implements of their trade on the truck.

The men gather together in a circle to discuss what they are going to do. Put to the vote, it is decided that the Supervisor will drive to the nearest General Store about 10 Clicks up the road and telephone the Council Yard for advice.

Which he does.

'Matey, says the Road Gang Supervisor to the to the Manager on the other end of the phone back in the depot, 'Bluey forgot to load all our shovels and tools in the truck this morning, we can't make a start, what shall we do?'

'Bloody hell, that's no good mate!, says the manager, You'll just have to lean on each other until we can get some out to you!'

[HeijoshinCool]

They patch here every month.

The fact that they leave standing water in the bottom of every hole they patch, might have something to do with it.

[i claudius]

Just outside the electronic gate to our street ,they have been patching and filling what was a small hole for 7 years ,last time they filled the gaping crator it took them 2 days ,and it looked as if they had done a good job ,but after a couple of cars drove over it ,well you know the rest.

[slapout]

The old geezers back home used to call this type of thing 'job security'. I noticed one of the people employeed to sweep the streets in CM the other morning, sit down on a bench had her breakfast and threw the plastic down on the street. It was behind her progress marker so it stayed until the morrow.

Every year the scientists, inventors, etc improve and design new items/methods to improve our way of life. Give the improvement to the neandathals of the human race and they manage to screw up the entire concept. These are the people we used to refer to as being able "to break an anvil".

[boomerangutang]

Just outside the electronic gate to our street ,they have been patching and filling what was a small hole for 7 years ,last time they filled the gaping crator it took them 2 days ,and it looked as if they had done a good job ,but after a couple of cars drove over it ,well you know the rest.

there's an incessant hole like that on a main road near me. It's fixed about twice a year, but always comes back. It's a perfect size for grabbing a tire and causing major damage.

[mogandave]

Nothing wrong with the way they are patching the pot holes, the problem is the substrate. Building and maintaing roads on wet sand is difficult. I think they do pretty good for what they spend.

[Neeranam]

The worst roads I have seen around these parts is outside the Department of Roads in Khon Kaen.

[ecgwee]

the reasons we are here in thailand is cos potholes, tea money , sloppy work. Those who don't believe me please head to Singapore, switzerland or japan. non of the above defect. We fled from these clinics.

[kannot]

Nothing wrong with the way they are patching the pot holes, the problem is the substrate. Building and maintaing roads on wet sand is difficult. I think they do pretty good for what they spend.

and your knowledge of how to repair a hole is?

As mentioned above u need a diamond cutter, a 100% cleaned out hole then a roller to compact the tarmac and then finally sealing bitumen in a 2 inch strip around the repair....anything else is a foooo* up.

[CharlieH]

And why are the holes always round .? Never irregular, nearly always a circle? Why is that?

[chrisinth]

Nothing wrong with the way they are patching the pot holes, the problem is the substrate. Building and maintaing roads on wet sand is difficult. I think they do pretty good for what they spend.

and your knowledge of how to repair a hole is?

As mentioned above u need a diamond cutter, a 100% cleaned out hole then a roller to compact the tarmac and then finally sealing bitumen in a 2 inch strip around the repair....anything else is a foooo* up.

If you don't compact the fill then the rest of the repair is futile....................

[kannot]

Nothing wrong with the way they are patching the pot holes, the problem is the substrate. Building and maintaing roads on wet sand is difficult. I think they do pretty good for what they spend.

and your knowledge of how to repair a hole is?

As mentioned above u need a diamond cutter, a 100% cleaned out hole then a roller to compact the tarmac and then finally sealing bitumen in a 2 inch strip around the repair....anything else is a foooo* up.

If you don't compact the fill then the rest of the repair is futile....................

Depends how deep/wide the hole most I see are actually quite shallow hence the small roller they should use other wise plate compactor although years ago I used to see those ones like a big rubber foot doing it.

More often than not thought it starts at the beginning with what can only be described here as virtually wafer thin tarmac, usually crumbling within a few months.

[Heng]

Shallow water mains is one reason.

When they put in the water main on one of our less developed sois they dug about 6 inches into the ground, plopped down the main hose and covered it back up with dirt. It'll likely be springing leaks within a few years as people drive over it, install driveways, etc.

[kannot]

Shallow water mains is one reason.

When they put in the water main on one of our less developed sois they dug about 6 inches into the ground, plopped down the main hose and covered it back up with dirt. It'll likely be springing leaks within a few years as people drive over it, install driveways, etc.

Aint that the truth!! note blue water mains......nuts eh!!

[Huayrat]

Twice I've went through a hole that was so deep that it wrecked my wheel.. 3000 baht for a new tyre.. It's a disgrace that they can't be sued for damages to your vehicle.. They are everywhere

[mogandave]

Nothing wrong with the way they are patching the pot holes, the problem is the substrate. Building and maintaing roads on wet sand is difficult. I think they do pretty good for what they spend.

and your knowledge of how to repair a hole is?

As mentioned above u need a diamond cutter, a 100% cleaned out hole then a roller to compact the tarmac and then finally sealing bitumen in a 2 inch strip around the repair....anything else is a foooo* up.

Believe whatever you like, but it makes no difference how you patch the hole, if the road is built over wet sand.

Again, I think they do pretty well for what they spend, you don’t think so, whatever.

[mogandave]

Twice I've went through a hole that was so deep that it wrecked my wheel.. 3000 baht for a new tyre.. It's a disgrace that they can't be sued for damages to your vehicle.. They are everywhere

Perhaps you should pay better attention.

[Neeranam]

Twice I've went through a hole that was so deep that it wrecked my wheel.. 3000 baht for a new tyre.. It's a disgrace that they can't be sued for damages to your vehicle.. They are everywhere

It's not a disgrace - it is what it is. Do you pay tax - road or otherwise?

ON a trip back to Scotland last year, I buckled a wheel when driving to the local golf course. I was going slow as there are ridiculously high sleeping policemen but hit a big hole and buckled a wheel in my mother's car. 500 quid for a new wheel which is 25,000 baht, so stop bloody whinging about the disgrace and 3000 baht.

Couldn't sue the council as it is classed as a private road.

[Neeranam]

Twice I've went through a hole that was so deep that it wrecked my wheel.. 3000 baht for a new tyre.. It's a disgrace that they can't be sued for damages to your vehicle.. They are everywhere

Perhaps you should pay better attention.

I agree or if you live in the country where there are loads of bad roads, buy a bigger suitable vehicle.

[Mosha]

You should see the village next to ours. The road was tarmacked about 6 years ago. A month after this was done, a tree was sprouting through part of it. Now there are more potholes than tarmac Local elections for the admin office, and the incumbent has after 4 years in office, just got round to requesting funding to repair the road, and is standing for office again. A single photo doesn't do it justice, it needs a video.

[seajae]

Unfortunately this is normal in Thailand, I have yet to see any work done to good specification, it is virtually all based on how much money they can save doing it cheaply. Roads are no compacted/layered correctly, they are simply done as cheaply as possible then repaired constantly, this also keeps thais in work. If they built everything here the correct way too many people would be out of works as they would not have to continually repair the shoddy workmanship, instead you would see buildings/roads etc that last for years without breaking down. This is Thailand, you just have to accept that good quality work is not available here unless you do it yourself

[Neeranam]

Unfortunately this is normal in Thailand, I have yet to see any work done to good specification, it is virtually all based on how much money they can save doing it cheaply. Roads are no compacted/layered correctly, they are simply done as cheaply as possible then repaired constantly, this also keeps thais in work. If they built everything here the correct way too many people would be out of works as they would not have to continually repair the shoddy workmanship, instead you would see buildings/roads etc that last for years without breaking down. This is Thailand, you just have to accept that good quality work is not available here unless you do it yourself:)

I would a worse job myself! Good quality work is available but you have to pay AND oversee - they will cut corners wherever possible.

[Commander Tamson]

The answer, as if we all didn't know, is corruption at every level of society/life in Thailand.

The question should be 'Why do the Thais accept this?' Because, for them, it is the norm, and most, if they had the chance, would also be part of it.

It amazes me, when I speak to ordinary hard-working respectable people here, that they actually look up to these thieves!

But if you think it is bad here, try living in Indonesia, or better still China!

[Mooner]

Nothing wrong with the way they are patching the pot holes, the problem is the substrate. Building and maintaing roads on wet sand is difficult. I think they do pretty good for what they spend.

and your knowledge of how to repair a hole is?

As mentioned above u need a diamond cutter, a 100% cleaned out hole then a roller to compact the tarmac and then finally sealing bitumen in a 2 inch strip around the repair....anything else is a foooo* up.

Believe whatever you like, but it makes no difference how you patch the hole, if the road is built over wet sand.

Again, I think they do pretty well for what they spend, you don’t think so, whatever.

Wet sand? So all the potholes are built over wet sand? I used to live in a place called Sandbanks. The name might give it away but we never had problems with potholes.

The fact is we have learnt to build roads and building all over the globe overcoming all obstacles. The reason there are so many potholes and road problems here is poor preparation and workmanship....nothing else!