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Finding the perfect pothole fix

Those potholes are just a pain. But nothing is more frustrating than seeing a road crew fix one, only to have it reappear a few days later when the patch doesn't hold. Isn't there anything better? We went to find a solution.

How many potholes have you hit this winter? Cold patch is typically the fast fix but many in the field know Mother Nature is not its friend.

"Freeze, thaw if there's already water in the hole and it freezes it just blows that right out when it freezes then the snow plow comes along and it's gone," says Scott Hune, owner of Shopping Center Maintenance Company.

He came to the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland for the National Pavement Expo looking for the latest high tech pothole fix.

There were plenty of options claiming to be better than the standard, but two stood out because all they needed to work is water.

Aquaphalt and Aqua Patch are the only two water activated products sold in the U.S. Aqua Patch has been used in Japan for years and about three years ago started marketing here. It's rep says it's used on the race track at Daytona.

Cost wise, both are double the price of the standard cold patch but the difference is they claim to be permanent.

"It binds to the other asphalt and concrete and it cures so it won't pop out and it can take 2800 pounds three hours later and traffic can open up immediately," says Aqua Patch rep Marion Watson.

Both products are guaranteed to last three years and since they're not petroleum based, they claim to be environmentally friendly. Watson demonstrated by adding water to the mix in a plastic cup and tamping it down with his fingers. Nothing stuck or stained his skin.

Watson says he'll be making a presentation of his product to the City of Cleveland Friday.

The drawback, both have a shelf life. Six months for Aqua Patch and a year for Aquaphalt. If moisture gets in the bag or bucket the stuff will harden and be useless.

So what did Hune think?

"I'm leaning toward the Aqua because it might be a more permanent fix but the other (improved cold patch) might be more cost effective," he said.

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