Posted
by Brad Johnson
on Mon Jun 21, 2010
Last updated
Jun 21, 2010
MoDOT says when roads crumble due to heat, the damage done may just look like a pile of rocks but when you drive over it, it's like hitting a speed bump. They're expecting many more of what they call blow-ups to happen this week because of the hot temperatures.
Drivers tell ABC 17 News blow-ups are a big problem on the roads. They say even when crews try to fix them, another problem comes up just down the road.
"Pretty much basically they'll fix one section of the road and then two days later it'll store up again because they don't give the asphalt enough time to set up and the concrete time to set up and heavy trucks go across it and it get torn up," truck driver Mike Sherman tells us.
MoDOT officials say older concrete roads like Highway 63 and Highway 50 are where most of the blow-ups will happen. They tell us once they get a call, they'll do a spot fix but they have to wait a while to completely repair it.
"You have the right conditions where concrete like to expand especially with the heat and once there's so much pressure in the roadway the pavement will heave basically at the joint seeking relief," area engineer Mike Schupp says.
Area MoDOT engineer Mike Schupp says it can cost up to $15,000 to repair one blow-up. He tells us he's seen tires blown out because of a blow-up, but says if you slow down a little bit you should be fine. He tells us even though MoDOT is cutting back on some road maintenance, this won't be one of them.
Drivers explain to me the bad roads are costing them money out of their pockets.
"It takes a toll on my steering axel and I've noticed right now when turn a little bit right now my front ends popping and I need to get it to the shop and the roads aren't helping matters none," Sherman says.
Schupp tells us if blow-ups are bad enough, they will replace them on the spot. But he says they should wait until cooler weather to completely repair it. MoDOT officials tell us there have been two cracked areas on Highway 63 in Boone County and they expect many more to show up this week.
