Potholes are annoying and dangerous. Now they’re also political
A pothole is usually not the disease – it is the visible symptom. The main engineering challenge is trying to stop them forming in the first place.
In Victoria, potholes have become a contentious issue ahead of the state election in November. The National Transport Research Organisation reports that Victoria has the worst pothole problem in Australia. Heavy vehicles and climate change are exacerbating road deterioration. The Victorian government has pledged an additional $352 million to double its pothole-repair target to 500,000 by the end of January 2027. However, three planned level crossings are being delayed by a year to offset the investment.
Potholes are now a hot political topic. The Coalition has promised $5 billion over four years for road maintenance, aiming to repair one million potholes. Potholes pose a significant danger, potentially damaging a vehicle's tyres, wheels, suspension, and undercarriage. They are a visible symptom of road deterioration, which can be caused by various factors, including ageing asphalt, temperature changes, and moisture-sensitive soils.
The severity of the pothole problem is evident, with road and pothole issues increasing by 27% nationally in the year to June 2026, according to the Snap Send Solve platform. While national road-condition data is limited and inconsistent, there is ample anecdotal evidence and media coverage suggesting that the problem is worsening across much of Australia.
Local councils and state governments typically manage major arterial and state roads, while local roads are maintained by local councils. The federal government provides significant road funding but usually does not directly maintain roads. The causes of potholes are multifaceted, involving the deterioration of road pavement layers due to heavy traffic, ageing, construction defects, and movement in the underlying layers.
Water infiltration weakens materials beneath the surface and damages the bond between asphalt and aggregates. Repeated traffic stresses exacerbate the issue, leading to a rapid development of potholes, especially after wet weather.
Prevention is the most effective strategy to address potholes. Sealing small cracks before water penetration, maintaining drainage, renewing ageing surfaces, and rehabilitating weak sections can prevent extensive failure. Sustainable materials, such as asphalt incorporating recycled concrete, reclaimed asphalt pavement, and recycled glass, have shown strong stiffness, fatigue life, and moisture-resistance performance.
Emerging technologies, such as AI-based image analysis, remote sensing, and predictive models, could help monitor road conditions more effectively. While completely eliminating potholes may be unrealistic, moving towards a proactive approach can significantly improve road safety and longevity.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
