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The JCB Pothole Pro - a specialist 3‑in‑1 machine designed to deliver speedy and permanent pothole repairs – is on free loan from JCB.
It is engineered to cut, crop and clean defects using dedicated attachments, preparing each pothole for permanent filing in as little as eight minutes.
The trial is an example of the county council new plan to significantly change the way it works – putting the needs of Suffolk communities above all else.
This will include more common sense in decision-making, slashing bureaucracy and unnecessary spending, being more responsive to residents, getting things done quicker and protecting Suffolk’s precious way of life.
Key actions, some of which are already well underway, include:
rebuilding public trust in the county council
waging war on potholes to fix Suffolk’s roads
prioritising frontline services
giving children and young people the right start in life
robustly challenging inappropriate large housing developments
defending Suffolk’s way of life
reforming the way the council works
protecting Suffolk from Local Government Reorganisation.
Councillor Michael Hadwen, the Leader of Suffolk County Council, said: “Today is about two things – new ways of waging war on potholes and our fresh new approach to running the county council.
“Residents have been very clear that they are not happy with the way the council has been led in the past. My administration agrees, which is why we are here to break that mould.
“Fresh thinking, plain speaking and getting on with the job is how we are running this council and is what residents can expect from us.
"The Pothole Pro is one example of the kind of innovation we are keen to explore in Suffolk, and I look forward to seeing how it performs in practice, alongside a range of other improvements we are making to deliver better outcomes for residents, who must come first."
The council is assessing the JCB Pothole Pro to see if it can complement its existing methods to mend the roads.
A single operator can undertake much of the preparation work that would traditionally require several pieces of plant and more manual labour.
It works by:
Cutting – a planer cuts a neat, regular repair area
Cropping – the edges can be trimmed square around defects and ironwork
Cleaning – an integrated sweeper removes debris
JCB say a typical pothole can be prepared in around eight minutes, after which a conventional patching crew can complete the repair using hot asphalt.
The Pothole Pro is already in use by other local authorities in the UK.
Stoke‑on‑Trent Council, which helped develop the machine, reported a 750% increase in output and a 97% reduction in potholes requiring a return visit within six months, compared with traditional methods.
The JCB will be trialled at a number of pothole sites across Suffolk.
It will also carry out road repairs alongside Suffolk Highways' existing repairs systems to enable a comprehensive like-for-like performance comparison.
Both approaches will address approximately 90m² of carriageway defects, covering a similar number of potholes and allowing assessment of excavation performance, productivity and operational efficiency.
Suffolk Highways used RoadAI technology alongside customer reports to help identify suitable trial locations.
Artificial intelligence analyses highway imagery, enabling a more proactive approach to maintenance by identifying locations that may benefit from intervention before defects develop into larger potholes.
Councillor Christopher Hudson, Suffolk County Council Cabinet member for Transport and Highways, said: “I am very excited at the prospect of trialling Pothole Pro and seeing if it can help us here in Suffolk in the fight against potholes.
“If it performs here as it has elsewhere, it can help us get ahead of defects and deliver improved road surfaces for residents across the county.
"This trial is an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of the technology in Suffolk and determine where, if anywhere, it can help us improve the way we manage road defects."
For more details about the Pothole Pro go to the JCB website.
More details on the strategic statement can be found below: