'Pothole Killer' patches holes for years

NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - Meet the Pothole Killer, the Town of Huntington's newest and most efficient tool when it comes to filling potholes. The machine is taking over the traditional method of patching potholes.

For decades, road crews were filling about 40 to 50 potholes a day using a broom, shovel, and roller but the patches were only temporary.

Now with this new technology, officials say the holes will be pothole-proof for three to five years. It's all done with a specially equipped long-armed truck that can fill up to 100 potholes a day, most in under a minute.

"The pothole machine blows out the dust in the hole, installs a layer of material which makes the new repair adhere to the existing surface and then puts in an emulsified aggregate and dry aggregate that keeps it from being dragged it from traffic and cars," said Kevin Orelli, Huntington's superintendent of highways.

Cars can drive on the repair immediately. The town is leasing the machine for $2,500 a day. Officials say this method is cost-effective and safer because the driver stays in the truck.

"This machine will replace two crews with one man," Orelli said. "Not that we're replacing men but we're going to get more accomplished at the end of the day."

The town is also using thick plastic pouches known as Thump Pads. They act as a quick fix until crews can fill the pothole.

About 600 potholes have been reported in the Town of Huntington so far this season. Town officials hope that with this new machine they only have to fill the potholes once instead of multiple times.