Why Autumn is Crucial for Road Maintenance
Autumn’s wet and windy conditions put roads and highways under increased strain. Heavy rainfall highlights drainage problems, accelerates pothole formation, and allows water to seep into cracks and joints — which can worsen dramatically when temperatures drop.
Proactive autumn road maintenance ensures networks stay safe, reduces costly emergency repairs, and extends the life of your road surfaces.
5 Essential Autumn Road Maintenance Tasks
1. Identify & Repair Potholes in Wet Weather
Wet conditions accelerate pothole formation, but waiting for dry weather isn’t always an option. EZ Street Asphalt® allows for permanent pothole repairs in wet or cold conditions, making it ideal for getting ahead of the coldest weather for planned repairs. We recommend ordering a bulk bag and storing it outside to dig in to as emergency repairs occur, the long shelf life means your EZ Street will remain workable in the stockpile all winter, even when stored in extreme colds. It's a good idea to mark and prioritise repairs to get ahead of the worst problem areas using something like our site marker sprays.
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2. Repair Surface Cracks
You'll need a dry day for this one, but it will put you in good stead for when the weather changed. Cracks and joints are vulnerable to water ingress. Applying Safetrack Crack Infill will seal the surface, preventing freeze-thaw damage over winter. This fast-curing resin helps extend surface life and improves safety by reducing further cracking. Another option for smaller surface cracks is to coat the surface with Road Shield By Red Stag, a sealand that will protect, refresh and extend your asphalt surfaces.
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3. Clean & Maintain Maintenance Equipment
When heavy rain prevents road works, use the downtime to maintain and clean your tools. Our asphalt cleaner and remover makes it easy to remove bitumen build-up on tools and equipment. Check compactors, applicators, and cutting tools, and replace worn consumables like specialist diamond blades.
4. Organise Your Supplies
A rainy day is ideal for reviewing your stores. Ensure you have enough cold asphalt, crack infill resin, PPE, and traffic management supplies ahead of winter. Having stock ready means your teams can respond quickly when emergency repairs are needed.
5. Plan Ahead to Avoid Winter Road Failures
Autumn rainfall acts as a natural audit for your road surfaces. By identifying problem areas and acting early, you prevent expensive winter damage and keep road users safe.
Red Stag are proud to supply highway maintenance teams with performance-proven supplies for all-weather repairs.
