Road maintenance teams across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are intensifying efforts to repair extensive pothole damage following a period of severe snowfall and freezing temperatures. The region experienced significant disruption, including multiple Met Office amber warnings for heavy snow and ice, which led to widespread school closures and travel chaos.
The recent extreme weather event, described by some as “some of the worst winter weather in decades” in Scotland, saw snow accumulations reaching up to 20-30cm in higher elevations, with a major incident declared in Aberdeenshire due to service disruptions. The subsequent thaw, combined with a fresh ice warning for Monday evening into Tuesday morning (Jan 13), has exacerbated the issue of road degradation leading to potholes.
Potholes can form through a process known as the freeze-thaw cycle. Water infiltrates minute cracks and fissures in the road surface. When temperatures drop below freezing, this trapped water expands, exerting pressure that widens the cracks. Repeated cycles, often intensified by de-icing salts that promote water penetration, lead to rapid expansions of potholes.
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Aberdeen City Council has confirmed its roads teams will be out filling in potholes across the area, focusing on “high priority” areas.
Aberdeenshire Council is also actively refilling grit bins across the region in anticipation of further cold snaps.
“Because of the drop in temps, teams are restocking the grit bins which meet our criteria,” a statement from Aberdeenshire Council noted, urging residents to use the grit for roads and pathways, not private driveways. Both councils encourage the public to report road defects online to facilitate repair efforts.
