The recent heatwave across the UK resulted in one of the country’s busiest roads being closed at the weekend.
Temperatures reached a scorching 31.4C in places, and consequently the surface of the M25 melted, forcing police to close the clockwise carriageway on Sunday. The problem disrupted the plans of thousands of holidaymakers on their way to the coast to enjoy the weather.
Some motorists reported a ridge forming in the road, and others told of vehicles "ploughing into" the melted motorway surface.
The heat caused "severe damage to the road surface" and as a result emergency repair crews were dispatched to junction 23, near Potters Bar, Hertfordshire. The crews worked through the night to lay down a new surface, however yesterday the Highways Agency warned that motorists may well still face slow moving traffic and potential jams along the stretch of damaged carriageway, as it still required further attention.
The M25 was not the only road to suffer damage at the expense of the soaring temperatures; parts of the A48 in Wales also melted and lorries were sent out to spread crushed rock dust over its surface.
A spokesperson for the Highways Agency said: "It is too early to say exactly what caused the road to deteriorate in such a manner but right now the top priority is to complete the resurfacing work, which is at an advanced stage, so that the M25 can be re-opened to traffic before the Monday morning rush."
According to current weather reports, the heatwave across the UK is set to last for at least another week.
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