Against asphalt damage
You may not expect it in the middle of summer, but on Monday and Tuesday many roads in the Netherlands have been salted. This happens because of the heat, because asphalt can be damaged more easily.
When you think of spreading salt, you probably mainly think of winter scenes, but the gritters sometimes also set out in extreme heat. This is also happening this week in various places in the country. The salt can prevent asphalt from being damaged. Salt has been sprinkled in Flevoland, Epe and Zwartewaterland, among other things, report news agency AP.
A spokesperson for the province of Flevoland explains why spreading is done: “Trucks approaching a roundabout and braking and accelerating can cause damage to the asphalt, which becomes softer due to the heat.” In the municipality of Epe, the gritters have also been sent out: “Attention is primarily focused on intersections and roundabouts in and around built-up areas and other busy road sections.” Salt can absorb the moisture from the air and thereby cool the asphalt, but at the same time it also removes moisture from the asphalt itself and thus makes it less sticky. After all, the latter can lead to asphalt sticking to the tires in heavier vehicles and being pulled up.
It is even warmer on Tuesday than Monday, but very high asphalt temperatures were also measured on Monday. For example, 50 degrees was measured in the Amsterdam-Haarlem region. On the Afsluitdijk, in Middelburg, Valkenburg and Doetinchem, among others, the temperature of the asphalt also approached 50 degrees. So spread across the country.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl