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The Conversation
The Conversation
Suyun Paul Ham, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington

Stuck bridges, buckling roads − extreme heat is wreaking havoc on America’s aging infrastructure

When highways buckle, the damage can happen quickly, putting drivers in danger and tying up traffic. AP Photo/David Goldman

Summer 2024’s record heat is creating problems for transportation infrastructure, from roads to rails.

New York’s Third Avenue Bridge, which swings open for ship traffic on the Harlem River, was stuck for hours after its metal expanded in the heat and it couldn’t close. Roads have buckled on hot days in several states, including Washington and Wisconsin. Amtrak warned passengers to prepare for heat-related problems hours before a daylong outage between New York and New Jersey; the risks to power lines and rails during high temperatures are a growing source of delays for the train system.

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