Melting Asphalt in the Heat Wave, Bus Stop Road ‘Squishy’

A phenomenon of melting asphalt on the roads has occurred due to the relentless extreme heat.

According to a report by News1 on the 4th, the asphalt on the roadside at the bus stop in front of Nongsocheon Elementary School in Ulsan’s Buk-gu has changed into a squishy state, resembling melted ice cream.

It was captured that the melted asphalt was flowing down and covering the storm drain beside the road. The yellow lane markings originally drawn on the road have also lost their form and disappeared. This is known as 'plastic deformation' in road engineering, which occurs when heated asphalt fails to withstand the weight of large vehicles, causing it to shift or sag.

Causes and Measures of Road Deformation

It is presumed that the weight of buses regularly coming and going from the nearby bus garage has caused the asphalt on the road to shift.

Asphalt, made from petroleum, has the characteristic of softening when exposed to high temperatures, leading to frequent occurrences of plastic deformation during the scorching summer months.

An official from Ulsan stated, “We have received 3 to 4 complaints about the road and plan to make repairs over the weekend,” adding, “We will need to grind down the asphalt, reinforce the underlying structure, and then repave it.”

With the ongoing heat wave, the importance of road safety and the need for prompt repair work are being underscored.

Image Source: News1