Gritters typically used in wintry conditions are now deployed in Central Bedfordshire amid significant heatwave concerns. Local authorities are spreading crushed stone to protect road surfaces, which can heat up to dangerous temperatures. Road surface temperatures may reach 50C in sunlight, leading to potential damage as asphalt softens. The Road Surface Treatments Association states that asphalt can begin to melt even when air temperatures drop at night due to its heat retention. This situation arises during the UK's hottest June on record, coinciding with heatwaves across Europe.
In Central Bedfordshire, gritters commonly used in winter are being deployed in response to the extreme heatwave this summer, raising concerns about potential road surface damage.
Local authorities indicated that road temperatures could soar to 50C in direct sunlight, causing asphalt to soften and potentially result in significant surface damage.
The Road Surface Treatments Association warns that asphalt could start to melt when air temperatures drop to 20C at night, due to heat absorption throughout the day.
Concerns over road conditions coincide with record-breaking high temperatures in the UK, including the hottest June recorded, amidst a wider European heatwave.
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