With weather conditions remaining volatile, potholes keep forming on roads in Riga with poor asphalt quality. Road maintenance workers have fixed potholes in an area of 22 405 m2 so far, as reported by Riga municipal workers.
“With cold asphalt laying technology, the elimination of potholes dangerous for road traffic is carried out regardless of weather conditions, including in winter. The result is affected by multiple factors – weather, road traffic intensity and state of road surface. The main objective of road maintenance work is eliminating situations dangerous for road traffic,” the municipality comments.
Riga municipality’s representatives say that because of the volatile weather conditions this winter season, many potholes have formed on various roads. “Over time, asphalt concrete binder (bitumen) ages, becoming harder and more brittle, so asphalt loses its elasticity, resulting in cracks that form more easily. Water seeps into the cracks during thaw and then freezes when air temperature falls below 0° C again. Water changes its volume when it freezes and thaws. As a result, cracks become larger.”
In spring, when average air temperature stabilises above +5° C, the city will commence more large-scale road repairs using the usual technologies – hot asphalt-laying, which ensures a longer service life, the municipality adds.
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Road maintenance workers fix dangerous potholes around vast area in Riga
