In Germany, abnormal heat has caused the road surface on motorways to collapse, causing road closures and traffic jams. This is reported by Deutsche Welle, Bild, Tagesspiegel.
During the latest heat wave, temperatures in various regions of Germany reached record highs, particularly in Saxony-Anhalt. This caused the autobahns to deform, the concrete to crack, and some sections had to be closed to traffic.
During the week, such problems were recorded on several motorways, including the A2 in Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg, as well as the A93 in Bavaria.
Due to a traffic jam on the A2, the Saxony-Anhalt police had to help a truck transporting around 9,000 chickens from the Netherlands to Poland for slaughter. The driver contacted the emergency services, fearing that the animals would not be able to withstand the high temperatures.
Firefighters and veterinary officials initially provided the truck with water and fans, but this proved to be insufficient. Two patrol cars then escorted the vehicle through the closed section to the nearest exit.
Despite this, about 150 of the 9,000 chickens died. The veterinary service has opened criminal proceedings against the person responsible for transporting the animals and other persons involved.
As Bild points out, a large part of the concrete autobahns in Germany were built during a period when heat waves with temperatures above 40°C were considered an exceptional phenomenon. In southern countries, roads are usually designed for higher temperatures, using different asphalt mixtures and construction technologies.
In direct sunlight, the road surface can heat up to more than 60°C. If it does not have time to cool down at night, the binding materials soften and can come to the surface. Under the pressure of traffic, ruts, cracks and bulges form on the roads.
