Public Works Deploys New Spray Pothole Patcher

The Unified Government’s Public Works Department announced the arrival of a new pothole patching vehicle, and they need the pubic’s help in picking a name for it!

Earlier this month, teams from Public Works’ Street and Fleet Services divisions received delivery of a LeeBoy® Spray Pothole Patcher. Unlike Public Works’ Hot Patchers, a single crew member can operate the Spray Patcher using a “Patch-on-the-Go” spray injection system. In some cases, the new vehicle can patch potholes in as little as two minutes.

Unique to this model is an extendable hydraulic boom that allows operators a wide working range for patching from side to side. The boom draws material from an onboard kettle that can heat, mix, and hold up to 11,000 pounds of material.

Potholes are patched by a driver-operated in-cab joystick that performs a four-step injection process via the hydraulic boom:

1. Clean – The operator uses a high-volume blower to clear the pothole of debris and moisture

2. Tack – The operator sprays a tack coat on the pothole’s interior

3. Fill – The operator sprays a mixture of emulsion and aggregate into the pothole

4. Finish – The operator sprays a finishing coat of dry aggregate on the surface

In the hands of a skilled operator, the new Spray Patcher can cover large areas and patch up to 200 potholes daily.

“Public Works Street Maintenance team is excited to add the new Spray Patcher to their growing list of advanced street maintenance tools,” Dave Reno, Public Works’ Public Information Officer, said. “The community has said that street maintenance should be the Unified Government’s top priority in multiple Community Surveys, and the Spray Patcher will help meet that expectation in a small but important way.”

March, April, May, and June are some of the busiest months, accounting for over 50% of all potholes. In May, crews patched 2,049 potholes, bringing this year’s running total to 14,965. With the new Spray Patcher working on local streets, teams will be able to patch more quickly and efficiently during some of the year’s busiest months. To vote for your favorite spray patcher name, visit wycokck.org/NameThePatcher or dial 3-1-1. Voting will close on July 1 at 5 PM, so don’t wait!

Remember to slow down and give crews plenty of room to operate safely when you see them.

Report potholes by calling 3-1-1 or visiting mywyco.wycokck.org.

Learn more about pothole patching operations online at wycokck.org/street.