WEST PITTSTON — Several borough roadways got a facelift on Feb. 4 when a company from Bucks County demonstrated a technique for efficiently patching potholes in spite of freezing temperatures.
A highly specialized piece of equipment which sprays a non-toxic material into potholes used by Patch Management Inc., nicknamed the “Pothole Killer,” made short work of fixing potholes on Susquehanna and Luzerne avenues near the Water Street bridge.
As the company got started at around 7 a.m., Mayor Tom Blaskiewicz looked out upon the project with a great deal of satisfaction, saying the project was both cost effective and very necessary.
Upon completion of the project later in the day, Blaskiewicz was completely happy with its results, calling it a “win win.”
Blaskiewicz said street conditions on Luzerne and Susquehanna avenues had deteriorated into what he termed “a crisis.”
West Pittston Borough Engineer Tom Reilly of Reilly Associates said water replacement and sewer rehabilitation projects had caused damage to the streets, making it difficult for local motorists to navigate the roadways.
A community development block grant and a contribution from Pennsylvania American Water, funded Saturday’s street repair, according to Reilly, which cost just over $6,000.
Blaskiewicz was especially impressed that Craig Baclit, president of the company, traveled to the borough to oversee the repairs.
“I’m believing that they want to do things right, the way we want them to be done,” said Blaskiewicz.
Both Blaskiewicz and Reilly said the repairs are only temporary, with the borough looking forward to completely repaving areas of both roadways as soon as temperatures break.
Lighting recently installed on Luzerne Avenue is part of a $5 million revitalization project funded by a Local Share Account grant and two Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery programs following flooding in 2011.
Blaskiewicz said Saturday’s repair of the potholes was a step in making the area, “a showcase and an example to other communities.”
Baclit explained the process as state-of-the art with all materials necessary for a day of patching contained on the truck, repairs that take 40 to 60 seconds lasting for years and operations controlled from the inside of the truck, reducing liability and increasing safety.
Baclit emphasized the entire process is environmentally friendly, with none of the materials used being toxic.
The process has been compared to spray painting and begins with a low velocity blower removing loose debris from the area to be repaired.
The next step is to apply an asphalt emulsion used as a “tack coat” base, followed by the emulsion being atomized and a top coat applied.
Baclit said, although he provided the manpower for Saturday’s project, he hoped the borough will consider leasing equipment for future projects.
“We lease equipment to do this type of pothole repair to municipalities and provide the materials; they provide the manpower,” he said. “It’s very cost effective.”
Baclit also noted the day’s temperatures, which bottomed out at about 10 degrees, were no impediment to completion of the work.
“We’ve completed repairs when temperatures were much lower than this,” he said. “It’s no problem.”
