The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) are warning that Texas roads and highways are facing constant pressure to serve their purpose in the extreme heat the state is currently enduring.
The concern with the extreme temperatures is that they can cause the road to expand and eventually buckle.
“It’ll make the road impassable, so that’s why it will likely require a closure or a fix,” TxDOT Waco District public information officer, Jake Smith told kxan news.
Smith says road buckles occur in two places.
“First, bridge joints that can malfunction in extreme temperatures and concrete pavement seams, and typically where old concrete or pavement meets new pavement,” said Smith.
The paved concrete sections are tied to function together but face the risk of breaking in extreme temperatures.
“When you have ambient temperatures of around 100 degrees, roadways or surface temperature can reach up to 140 degrees,” said Smith.
“That’s where TXDOT comes in and we’re ready to respond to these pavement failures or damage and pass them up and patch them up, so that the road becomes passable again,” said Smith.
If drivers encounter a road buckle or other road issues, it can be reported using TXDOT’s online portal.
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Source: kxan news
