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£2.75m to help repair pot holes £2.75m to help repair of potholes
(about 12 hours later)
Councils in Wales are being given more money to repair pot holes in roads caused by the winter freeze. Councils in Wales are being given more money to repair potholes in roads caused by the winter freeze.
Local authorities are facing a bill of millions of pounds to deal with weather-worn roads caused by the recent snow, ice and heavy rain.Local authorities are facing a bill of millions of pounds to deal with weather-worn roads caused by the recent snow, ice and heavy rain.
The assembly government says it will provide an extra £2.75m to help towards the cost. It is in addition to the £5m road maintenance grant already given.The assembly government says it will provide an extra £2.75m to help towards the cost. It is in addition to the £5m road maintenance grant already given.
It comes as a lane on the M4 at Newport was closed on Friday due to a pot hole. It comes as a lane on the M4 at Newport was closed on Friday due to a pothole.
The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) said earlier this month there had been "significant damage" to roads over the winter.The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) said earlier this month there had been "significant damage" to roads over the winter.
Many local authorities are still assessing the scale and cost of the repairs.Many local authorities are still assessing the scale and cost of the repairs.
A WLGA spokesman said: "The repair bill for roads maintained by local authorities is expected to be significant and could run into millions of pounds.A WLGA spokesman said: "The repair bill for roads maintained by local authorities is expected to be significant and could run into millions of pounds.
"This additional cost, added to the huge financial pressures that councils are already under, presents Wales with some real challenges.""This additional cost, added to the huge financial pressures that councils are already under, presents Wales with some real challenges."
Road collapseRoad collapse
The assembly government said the additional £2.75m will allow work on weaknesses in the road caused by the pot holes to begin immediately. The assembly government said the additional £2.75m will allow work on weaknesses in the road caused by the potholes to begin immediately.
If left untreated, it said they can have implications for the road network and lead to more widespread structural failure of the road.If left untreated, it said they can have implications for the road network and lead to more widespread structural failure of the road.
Pot holes are formed by water penetrating the surface of a road through cracks caused by traffic. Potholes are formed by water penetrating the surface of a road through cracks caused by traffic.
When temperatures plunge, the water freezes, expands and causes the surface to rupture. When the ice melts, it leaves a void below the surface, which eventually collapses.When temperatures plunge, the water freezes, expands and causes the surface to rupture. When the ice melts, it leaves a void below the surface, which eventually collapses.
Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "This extra money will help local authorities address the problems caused by the recent unforeseen weather conditions.Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "This extra money will help local authorities address the problems caused by the recent unforeseen weather conditions.
"It will allow them to tackle the potholes left by the recent adverse weather, and to continue the progress they have made to date maintaining the road network.""It will allow them to tackle the potholes left by the recent adverse weather, and to continue the progress they have made to date maintaining the road network."
The announcement comes just days after emergency repairs were carried out on a pot hole on the M4 at Newport. The announcement comes days after emergency repairs were carried out on a pothole on the M4 at Newport.
One lane on the westbound carriageway between junction 27, Highcross, and junction 28, Tredegar Park was closed on Friday.One lane on the westbound carriageway between junction 27, Highcross, and junction 28, Tredegar Park was closed on Friday.
In April 2009, the the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) said the safety of drivers on Welsh roads was being put at risk due to a lack of funding for maintenance.In April 2009, the the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) said the safety of drivers on Welsh roads was being put at risk due to a lack of funding for maintenance.
It said it would take more than 15 years to repair all 94,000 pot holes it had identified. It said it would take more than 15 years to repair all 94,000 potholes it had identified.