Heat damage on the A5: closure hits travelers before the holidays!

Heat damage on the A5: closure hits travelers before the holidays!

Extreme temperatures are taking a toll on the infrastructure in Hesse! Traffic on the A5 motorway in the Bergstrasse district has stopped for the time being after the heat caused the asphalt across all lanes to rise so much that a closure was necessary. This happened shortly before the start of the summer holidays, which also affects the surrounding area. The affected section extends between Zwingenberg and Bensheim towards Heidelberg. One vehicle has already been damaged due to the damage, which left the asphalt surface up to 20 centimeters high. The police recommend that drivers switch to the A67 heading south from the Darmstädter Kreuz. The extreme maximum temperatures on Wednesday were just under 40 degrees and led to these serious problems on the roads, as hessenschau.de reports.

The effects of the heat are more than just annoying. According to the state company Hessen Mobil, the problems are particularly due to the material quality of the highways. While asphalt roads can become softer and lead to ruts, older concrete roads pose a risk of so-called blow-ups. These dangerous bulges and fractures mainly occur on heavily used, older concrete roads. Fortunately, old concrete ceilings are no longer used in Hesse, so the risk of blow-ups is low, as the statements from hessen.de show.

Dealing with heat damage

The heat-related repair work on the A5 is due to begin on Thursday by a specialist company, although it remains unclear whether the route can be reopened in time for the start of the summer holidays on Friday. Slow and careful route controls are therefore essential to ensure the safety of drivers. In the past, extended heat periods in the summers of 2003 and 2013 have also led to severe damage and even buckling of concrete slabs on highways, making preventive measures even more necessary.

• Maßnahmen von Hessen Mobil zur Verringerung der Hitzeeinwirkungen:
• Verformungsbeständige Asphaltmischungen in Einsatz
• Regelmäßige Wartungsarbeiten
• Hellere Deckschichten zur Verlangsamung der Erwärmung

However, the situation in Hesse is not isolated. Heat damage was also found in other parts of Germany, such as at Hanover Airport, which even affected air traffic. The runway had to be closed for half a day due to bulges and cracks. To avoid such incidents, the runway is regularly sprayed with water to cool the concrete slabs and reduce blow-ups, as wissen.de notes.

The enormous temperatures and their consequences are also important for other road users. Ruts, bumps or potholes can suddenly appear and are not only a danger for drivers, but also especially for motorcyclists. Experts advise being careful, especially on older stretches of road, and eagerly awaiting repairs that need to be carried out in a timely manner in the heat.