Highways buckling in heat

[golden eagle]

With temps in the triple digits, U.S. 49 south of Jackson starting buckling today. Are there any other states having a problem with this?

[US71]

MoDOT is having problems with some of their roadwork because it's too hot to lay asphalt (doesn't set-up right).

[deathtopumpkins]

Backin July when it was well into the 100s here I heard of a few roads doing this on the news, and I remember a stretch of US 258 with concrete pavement here in Hampton totally buckled.

[yakra]

Old PA61? 

[golden eagle]

You'd think that with the way summers are in the south that DOTs across the region would do away with concrete roads. Our DOT used concrete when they constructed the Stack interchange (I-20, I-55 & US 49).

[BigMattFromTexas]

Hahaha. Well into the hundreds like 104°, haha. I was running my @$$ off in 100° weather. But on topic, here, who knows maybe our asphalt is more used to heat, haha. But at intersections there are places that the asphalt is buckling, due to heavy traffic in our 106° summer days.
BigMatt

[US71]

You'd think that with the way summers are in the south that DOTs across the region would do away with concrete roads. Our DOT used concrete when they constructed the Stack interchange (I-20, I-55 & US 49).

Concrete costs more, but supposedly has a longer life than asphalt.

[agentsteel53]

Concrete costs more, but supposedly has a longer life than asphalt.

it does.  I've driven on concrete from 1913 that is in perfectly good condition.

[Mergingtraffic]

On I-84 in CT, there is cement pavement from 1973 by Exits 21-23 and it is still pretty much ok.  But asphalt from 7 years agois bumpy and crumbling.  But, CT and most northeast states paved over their cement freeways with asphalt in the 70s & 80s. Why!?!??!

[JREwing78]

I-90 and the Beltline (US-12/14/18/151) around Madison have had quite a bit of trouble with buckling highways this summer. It's been a pretty toasty one.

[bugo]

Lots of asphalt roads have concrete underneath.  Instead of properly repaving the roads with concrete, they just throw a layer of asphalt on top.  The telltale concrete cracks can often be seen when the asphalt starts wearing down.

[Crazy Volvo Guy]

it does.  I've driven on concrete from 1913 that is in perfectly good condition.

This.  Try driving on an asphalt road that's not been redone in 20 years, much less 40.  Report back if your car is still in one piece.

Also, what bugo says.  If they're going to use asphalt, they need to rip out the concrete underneath and redo it with just asphalt.  -OR- do what PA does now days, mark where the joints are and cut the asphalt to match.  Seems to add some lifespan to the overlay in regards to reflective cracking.

On I-84 in CT, there is cement pavement from 1973 by Exits 21-23 and it is still pretty much ok.  But asphalt from 7 years agois bumpy and crumbling.  But, CT and most northeast states paved over their cement freeways with asphalt in the 70s & 80s. Why!?!??!

Two words: asphalt lobby.  Also, some northeast states never used concrete for their freeways.  See: VT, NH

[US71]

Lots of asphalt roads have concrete underneath.  Instead of properly repaving the roads with concrete, they just throw a layer of asphalt on top.  The telltale concrete cracks can often be seen when the asphalt starts wearing down.

The Mike Huckabee Interstate System!

[PAHighways]

With temps in the triple digits, U.S. 49 south of Jackson starting buckling today. Are there any other states having a problem with this?

Philadelphia seems to always have buckling roads during severe heat waves, including the recent one where a section of the US 1/Media Bypass buckled.

[UptownRoadGeek]

Street buckling is normal in the summertime around here.

[74/171FAN]

VA 288 always seems to have this problem in the summer but I've haven't heard much anything this year

[hm insulators]

Interestingly, I've never heard of streets and highways in Arizona buckling because of the heat! Is it because the concrete or asphalt used in this state a more heat-resistant variety? Many of the Phoenix-area freeways are concrete overlaid with rubberized asphalt.

[Brandon]

Interestingly, I've never heard of streets and highways in Arizona buckling because of the heat! Is it because the concrete or asphalt used in this state a more heat-resistant variety? Many of the Phoenix-area freeways are concrete overlaid with rubberized asphalt.

Do you have sub-freezing weather in Phoenix?  That's why we have buckling and cracking in Chicagoland.  The roads here have to stand up to both 100 degree heat in the summer (with the humidity as well) as well as 0 degree cold in the winter while being coated in salt.

[6a]

I went up to Fairbanks, AK in '06 and they had some wicked 80-degree temps that caused frost heaves that were a blast to drive on (in a rental) 

[WillWeaverRVA]

VA 288 always seems to have this problem in the summer but I've haven't heard much anything this year

Most of the "issues" with VA 288 this year seem to be with potholes and the patches on them, mostly on the section between VA 76 and I-95. I drove that section earlier this month and it didn't seem too bad - parts of I-95 and I-64 near Richmond are worse.

[Bickendan]

while being coated in salt.

I think I found the problem.

Of course, snow in Portland is always an example of Hilarity Ensues.

[yakra]

Snow in Portland is Situation Normal.