Spring driving is often difficult in New England because of potholes. The annual nuisance hit the Greater Danbury area hard this year. Danbury Public Works Director Antonio Iadarola was asked by the City Council what's being done to tackle the problem. He says the department tried out the material the state DOT uses for pothole patching, and eventually settled on the company with a machine called the Pothole Killer. Iadarola says the polymer they use seems to be the best at dealing with freezing and thawing, which causes potholes.
He added that the City has allocated more money each year for patching, but it's hard to keep up with a winter like the one that just happened.
Danbury officials investigated purchasing a Pothole Killer-type vehicle last year, but it was too expensive. He also challenged Council members to drive through other major cities like Waterbury, which he says is far worse than Danbury.
Some 8.8 miles of Danbury roadway was paved last year, with more being done in-house. The City bought paving equipment two years ago and continues to train employees. The Department also bought trucks to haul asphalt, making for a more efficient program.
