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HOLMBERG: The science of pavement buckling

Posted at 11:18 PM, Jul 06, 2012
and last updated 2012-07-09 09:30:12-04

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - So far this heat wave, Virginia’s 127,000 lane miles of roads are holding up pretty well, with just one major buckling incident in Northern Virginia.

But unusually hot temperatures in northern states are causing roads to heave upwards there.

And  VDOT is warning motorists here – particularly motorcyclists - to be on the lookout for heaving pavement as temperatures soar Saturday.

Why do roads buckle in the heat?

Mark Holmberg explains in this video with the help of a VDOT maintenance expert.