Motorists in Crockett, Texas, were warned by authorities to exercise caution as they drove because one of their roads was bleeding asphalt on Monday, June 20.
Crockett’s main loop, SL 304, experienced “bleeding” in the section between SH 21 East and SH 7 East, according to a Facebook post from the Lufkin office of the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT).
The city of Crockett is located about 100 miles north of Houston and 40 miles west of Lufkin.
In a traffic alert, TXDOT attributed the bleeding to “excessive heat” and informed motorists that “crews [were] working to put lime water on the roadway to help prevent it.” It directed drivers to “take alternate routes or prepare for delays until the roadway has been treated.”
TXDOT announced that the road work was completed an hour later.
Crockett clocked a high of 103 degrees that day, according to AccuWeather. It was the hottest day in town all month so far and five degrees higher than the hottest day in June 2021.
According to Stripe A Lot, a Michigan-based asphalt maintenance company, “As asphalt is compacted due to traffic activity, or heated due to sunlight and hot conditions, it can cause the oil-based binder to liquefy and run through the tiny pockets or voids in the pavement, before working its way out to the top in oil form.”
“Bleeding” is dangerous because it “can reduce vehicle traction and impact driver visibility on the road (as it is extremely reflective at night), and it should be removed if it occurs.”
The city of Lubbock had a similar problem in 2017. After several consecutive days of 100-degree heat, “crews were out spraying lime water to prevent the pavement from coming up or peeling due to the heat,” according to the Lubbock Avalance-Journal.
TXDOT said the same thing about the SL 304. Officials stated, “Should the heat become excessive in any area, we will again treat with water in an effort to cool the surface.”