The current state of the road from Heasley Mill, near North Molton, Devon. See SWNS story SWMELT; Gritters could soon be back out on UK roads - after dramatic pictures showed they were starting to MELT. The heatwave has caused tarmac to start disappearing as the soaring temperatures on the road hit 50 degrees. And this could see councils back deploying gritters on the road to spread sand - effectively a sunscreen for the surface. Images of the melted roads have been shared by the staff of the Communication Workers Union as a warning to try and keep members of the public on the roads safe.One was taken by a post office worker on Exmoor, which shows the current state of the road from Heasley Mill, near North Molton, Devon, while other images of Woodbury Salterton in Devon, melting have also been circulated. (SWNS)
Roads melted “like chocolate” across the U.K. and Ireland this week as a heatwave blasted the area.
Photos posted to social media by drivers and government agencies depicted the damage caused by surface temperatures reaching 125 degrees.
Roadworks authorities were planning to spread light-colored sand on the worst-affected stretches to act as both a sunscreen and to help stabilize the liquefying bitumen, which can be a hazard for drivers, SWNS reports.
The issue stems from the fact that many of the roads in the area don’t use the more expensive high-temperature that is available due to costs and the normally mild climate.
Several more heatwaves have been predicted for this summer, which experts told The Irish Sun could be the hottest in a century.