Pothole problem persists

So far this year, 545 potholes have been repaired across Masterton district – which is already 41 more than 2022’s final total of 504.

According to Wairarapa AA chairman Craig Bowyer, the current state of the area’s roads is “shocking.”

“The whole thing is pretty appalling at the moment,” and the crux of the issue is funding, he said.

“AA would welcome more money being spent on the potholes and road maintenance compared to raised pedestrian crossings,” Bowyer said.

While he acknowledges the constraints of poor weather and monetary issues, Bowyer noted that it is critical to “get our basic infrastructure right,”, especially at a time when “Wairarapa is becoming an incredibly popular place to travel to”.

Repeat repairs to persistent potholes have been an issue for some areas.

“The repair standard seems to be declining, it’s taking longer to do, and there’s too much re-work needing to be done,” Bowyer said.

“We’ve got to get the basics right,” he said.

John Tookey, an AUT professor in construction management, said the reoccurrence of potholes isn’t unusual and, in some cases, it’s to be expected – especially if trucks and heavy vehicles are frequent road users.

“Truck transport is the principal reason why we have the amount of damage we have in these persistent potholes,” Tookey said.

A large portion of New Zealand’s economy relies on truck transport, with big businesses using the likes of milk tankers and logging trucks.

“All of these trucks are all riding in the wheel marks of other trucks,” he said.

The persistent use of roads and high-density transit on them contributes significantly to the degradation of roading infrastructure.

Aside from usage, the substrate beneath the road also plays a crucial role in the integrity of the road’s infrastructure and resilience.

While it is possible to create more resilient roads and structures, Tookey said this would come at a higher cost, potentially thinning the already stretched roading budgets nationwide.

“We have to be realistic with what we can and can’t do,” he said, while noting that maintenance is a critical part of all roading infrastructure.

“You can’t stop maintenance,” Tookey said.

“When you do defer maintenance then the damage caused is that much greater.”

Tookey said it is important to note that potholes are not the same as sinkholes and that the causes are distinct, with potholes primarily being mechanical issues around vehicle transit.

Masterton District Council roading services manager Kaine Jaquiery confirmed that the occurrence of potholes is linked to traffic volumes.

“Rural roads are more susceptible with higher volumes of heavy traffic,” he said.