
It’s hot, but traveling by road can still be cool with the right care behind the scenes.
Summer heat waves happen, and in Maryland, it isn’t abnormal to experience a couple of months of high heat and humidity. At the same time, travel reaches its peak with plenty of summer road trips and other outings. One of the best ways to keep a community running well and proud of its home is to maintain the roads. What are the methods for maintaining asphalt in hot climates?
Starting Right with the Right Asphalt Mix
The right asphalt mix helps states like Maryland withstand high temperatures, including above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot mix asphalt is the standard traditional asphalt mix, but contractors can also use hot mix asphalt that is engineered to best withstand hot weather. There are cases in the UK and US where it was so hot that the roads melted. You don’t have to worry about that with the right kind of asphalt.
Paving in the Right Conditions
How the contractor paves the road matters greatly as well. The asphalt must be heated within a certain temperature range before it can be poured onto the road. The asphalt must then be compacted and cool down. After it cools, it continues to cure, achieving its maximum strength. The weather must be above 50 degrees Fahrenheit for the asphalt paving job to be successful.
Maintaining Asphalt Routinely
Starting on the right foot matters immensely, but what about maintaining asphalt in hot climates? What happens when a heat wave comes through the region? Even if the temperature is not so high that the asphalt would melt, the pavement can turn soft and malleable, disfiguring under heavy traffic. It can also cause elements of the pavement to evaporate, making it more brittle and prone to cracking.
Municipalities and commercial managers should maintain roads routinely to fix issues caused by hot weather and heavy traffic. Regular maintenance can catch many problems before they get worse.
Addressing Significant Issues
Even so, significant issues like large potholes or ruts could be a reason to fix the pavement immediately. Asphalt contractors are ready to help communities travel the roads safely, and repairing road damages caused by high temperatures could be a part of the job.
Utilizing Landscaping
If the area has a history of hot summers, as does Maryland, the use of shade trees can help to some extent. The shadier the roads, the safer they are from oxidation, softening, and more.
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