Some Iowa roadways are having trouble holding up under the extreme heat and humidity. Iowa Department of Transportation spokesperson Dena Gray-Fisher says the recent rain, followed by 100-degree temperatures, has caused widespread damage across the state.
“When it feels miserable to us, it’s also very miserable on our pavement,” Gray-Fisher said. “We starting to see a lot of buckling that started really over the weekend, we’ve had so much moisture and now we’re heating up that pavement as well.” Traffic was backed up for miles Monday afternoon on Interstate 380 in eastern Iowa, when the pavement buckled across both northbound lanes near the Toddville exit.
Gray-Fisher says they’ve received numerous other reports from both citizens and local law enforcement and are sending out repair crews as soon as possible. “I think the fact that our roadways are aging has a lot to do with it,” Gray-Fisher said. The more cracks that are in the pavement increases the chances that the roadway could buckle.
“Really, any place where you have a crack in the roadway and moisture’s getting in, any of that area could buckle up at any point,” Gray-Fisher said. “We’re out there 24 hours a day if it’s something that needs our attention immediately.” In some cases, traffic has been diverted or single lanes have been closed. Temporary closures are posted on the D.O.T.’s website .