Wisconsin's high temperatures can negatively affect pets, machinery and even one's health, but that's not all.
Dave Friedrichs, Pavement Management Engineer at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, is warning motorists to pay special attention to buckling roads in the extreme heat. Friedrichs says generally there is no major consequence of the buckling road, but that's not always the case.
"Well, most of the time it just buckles, but it can be pretty destructive if you happen to be at the very, very wrong place at the very, very wrong time. Chunks can fly up into the air and I have heard anecdotes about how people have gotten hurt and cars have been damaged pretty severely."
It starts when dirt fills the pavement joints, limiting the roadway's ability to properly expand in this hot summer weather, causing it to buckle. Friedrichs says you especially need to be aware of the emergency road crew when these unexpected bumps turn up. They need to have a safe work environment, so slow down. If you encounter such a buckling in the road and nobody is working on it, be sure to report it to the DOT.
"Oh, by all means, call in and tell us about it, because that's the sort of thing that has to be responded to quickly. It is an unsafe condition and anything the public can do to help us find them and notify us of conditions that are bad, is good."
