If you see a gritter out on the Central Bedfordshire roads today, don’t worry, they are helping to keep roads safe.
Usually, Central Bedfordshire Council’s fleet of gritters can be seen keeping the roads safe from snow and ice in the colder months, but this week it’s the extreme heatwave that has seen their drivers pick up the keys to the gritters again.
Temperatures in our area are predicted to reach a high of over 40°C this week and this could affect the condition of the road surface.
When road temperatures become too hot with the surface exceeding 50°C they can begin to melt and cause damage. By spreading a light dusting of crushed stone, instead of salt, it helps soak up excess tar and reduces the likelihood of road surfaces melting.
As a motorcyclist who has to deal with sandy roads in the Spring I hope they're spreading signs as liberally as sand so two-wheelers (motor and pedal) don't get a nasty surprise mid corner.
ReplyDeleteOne summer they paved I-84 at night and the daytime temps were in the 100's+..All the new asphalt was picked up in our tires the next day. What a mess!. 1997? This was around Boise, Idaho.
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