Thursday, July 22, 2010

Loudoun County Drivers Encouraged to be on the Lookout for Cracked/Buckling Pavement

Extreme summer heat can mean cracked, uneven and buckling pavement, so the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) asks that drivers — especially motorcyclists — to be on the lookout for problem spots while crews make emergency repairs.

Albert Rollins, VDOT’s interstate maintenance manager in northern Virginia, says that consistent temperatures in the mid- to high-90s have put area road surfaces at a high risk for buckling. “Pavement expands in the heat, and cannot contract if it does not cool down enough overnight,” he said. “It continues to expand, and that’s when we see damage.”

VDOT crews repaired areas of buckling pavement yesterday on I-395 near Seminary Road in Alexandria, and northern Virginia crews will be on special alert for emergency repairs this weekend as temperatures are expected to reach in excess of 100 degrees. Drivers are asked to be prepared for lane closures if crews need to mill and repave the road surface.

Motorists in Loudoun County can report potholes, buckling pavement and other road problems through VDOT’s online request form or by calling 703-383-VDOT.

  For the latest Loudoun County traffic news and information, subscribe to Loudoun County Traffic via your favorite RSS reader, or get Loudoun County Traffic by e-mail.

No comments:

Post a Comment