Extreme heat may cause some roads to buckle

MILWAUKEE -- The extreme heat that has southeast Wisconsin in its grip is taking a toll on roads. 

There have been a few instances of buckling roads in the Milwaukee area. A section of Brown Deer Rd. crumbled at the beginning of the month. On Saturday, July 14th, road crews were out fixing part of Highway 41 just north of Miller Park.

"We're seeing more this year. I don't think we saw the type of heat last year or the years before that we're seeing now," Ryan Luck with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation said.

Roads buckle at joints. That's where two sections of concrete meet. The two press on each other -- creating tension and pressure. Eventually, they could simply pop.

"When we see temperatures in the mid 90s approaching 100 degrees, we often do find areas that are susceptible to this." Luck said.

Video from earlier this month shows a car going airborne after a road buckled on Highway 29 in Chippewa County.

DOT officials are asking drivers to be on the lookout and slow down. It's a little common-sense warning that could prevent a freak accident.

"Safety is number one. We want to make sure we keep our roads safe, and we respond very quickly so we can close the lanes. If you see something unusual, slow down and don't launch yourself through the air," Luck said.