Why Do Minnesota And South Dakota Roads Buckle In Extreme Heat?

Hot summer temperatures across South Dakota and Minnesota are causing very dangerous conditions on roads and highways, including road buckling. What actually causes that to happen?

Road Conditions Alert

The South Dakota Highway Patrol reported that Interstate 29 had three locations where concrete had buckled in Brookings County.

The damaged roadway affected the southbound lanes between mile markers 140-145, located north of the Brookings exit.

Road crews are actively addressing road buckling issues, and drivers are urged to exercise extreme caution when traveling through this section of I-29.

Understanding Road Buckling

Road buckling occurs when pavement materials...especially concrete...expand and contract in response to dramatic temperature changes.

During extreme heat, road surfaces expand significantly.

When there isn't adequate space to accommodate this expansion, particularly at existing cracks or joints in aging concrete infrastructure, the pavement can lift and buckle upward.

This phenomenon is most prevalent on older roadways where expansion joints have deteriorated or become less effective over time.

Areas where moisture has penetrated the pavement and compromised its structural integrity are also particularly vulnerable to buckling during heat waves.

The combination of South Dakota and Minnesota's temperature extremes, from harsh winters to scorching summers, places additional stress on road infrastructure, making proper maintenance and monitoring of expansion joints crucial for safe travel conditions.