Small Town News

Rising temperatures could cause pavement blowups

---

As summer approaches and temperatures rise, a safety hazard MoDOT doesn't have control of and can't predict also begins to rise.... pavement blowups.

A "blow up" can be described as a big bump in the road that happens without warning. Northeast Missouri has already seen a few of these roadway buckles this week. "Ninety degrees seems to be the magic number, " said Simon Begley, Regional Maintenance Supervisor for MoDOT's Concrete Operations. "It rarely happens below that point, but anywhere above 90, degrees, a blowup is possible." Moisture, built up under weakened joints in the roadway, heats and expands creating stress on the joint. The concrete sections, butted up against one another, also expand and create pressure. The joints tighten until they eventually reach capacity, then one or both joints release the pressure in the easiest Way possible - up.

On Wednesday, June 16, around 2 p.m., while concrete crews were patching on Business Route 54 in Mexico, Ted Smith and Con-nie Krigbaum were preparing to pull the last patch of the day when Krigbaum noticed a crack forming and the pavement rising, then as the ground shook the lane blew. "So mother nature decided to add another patch to the road, " explained Begley. "It's still early in the summer...there will be more, " he assured.

The main problem when this happens is the potential danger to motorists. "When a roadway blowup happens, the joint looks like a pile of rocks in the roadway from a vehicle, " Begley explained. "Driving over it is like driving over a speed bump, only you're usually going a lot faster, " Begley added.

If you see a blowup, please slow down, and call MoDOT, the highway patrol or the local sheriff's department. MoDOT will be called to the scene and will temporarily repair and release the pressure within 2 hours after being notified. At a later date, crews will be scheduled to perform a complete concrete replacement at the joint.

All scheduled roadwork is posted he the traveler information map on the day it begins. Those traveling and the commuting public are encouraged to check the online map at www.modot.org daily for new work zones. Drivers are also invited to rate MoDOT work zones online at modot.org. MoDOT also offers e-update messages sent directly to your email when road-work is scheduled. Sign up online or call MoDOT's customer service center at 1-888-275-6636.



Copyright 2010 Monroe County Appeal, Paris, Missouri. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2011 Monroe County Appeal Paris, Missouri. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

More from Monroe County Appeal