AMARILLO, TEXAS -- August heat is here, causing trapped moisture beneath roadways to bubble up into dangerous 'hot-spots'.
The moisture slips into cracks in pavement during winter months, and although TxDOT patches the cracks, the moisture remains below. When temperatures top 100 degrees, asphalt and concrete can reach temperatures over 150 degrees, causing the moisture to bubble to the top. These bubbles can be dangerous, but hard to spot.
"Actually they're very had to see, our guys are out there driving every moring looking for these," said Paul Braun, TxDOT spokesperson, "more than likely you'll feel them, what what you really need to do is just drive for the conditions."
TxDOT crews go out daily looking for the spots, but are asking residents to report unsafe roadways.
"You'll be driving down the free-way or highway, you'll hit one of these blow-ups and it'll hit hard," said Braun, "so we really need to get at them right away."
