Wonderful news, everyone! The scorching heat generated by years of wilful environmental pollution has got so bad that it’s literally melting our infrastructure! Happy new year, 2018 is gonna be great!!!
Ahead of an expected extreme heat day tomorrow, we’ve got this cheering bit of news: it was so bloody hot in Victoria‘s north-east today that a 10-kilometre stretch of the Hume Freeway has literally melted.
Traffic at a stand still on the Hume outside Broadfoard due to melting tar @7NewsMelbourne @Y7News pic.twitter.com/mUocn6vzmN
— Steph Harris (@StephHarris26) January 5, 2018
Victoria Police issued a warning to motorists this afternoon, telling them to avoid the right-hand lane of the highway heading towards the city near the small town of Broadford.
Police are warning motorists to expect delays and to avoid the right-hand lane of the Hume Freeway (heading toward the city) near Broadford as there is a 10km stretch of road that is melting. pic.twitter.com/icI1hecmvn
— Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) January 5, 2018
A spokesperson for VicRoads told reporters that the hectic temperatures caused “bleeding of the road surface, which occurs when the bitumen becomes reactivated by warm temperatures and becomes soft and sticky.“
Eyewitnesses have taken to Twitter to vent about the weird phenomenon, with one describing the hassle of trying to drive through the muck:
It took me about 25 mins to crawl through that stretch in 1st gear. It was sticking to tyres and smelt like it was burnt. No cones/barriers/workpeople anywhere. Drove up the road shoulder to avoid it.
— Suzette Hosken (@HoskenS) January 5, 2018
In this Queenslander‘s opinion, it wasn’t even that hot in the area this arvo – the mercury cracked 30C at around 5pm – but considering that Victoria and NSW are in for an absolute scorcher of a weekend, this whole road-melting business does not bode well.
https://twitter.com/ToomeyWright/status/949150001975894018
Temps are expected to top 40C in Victoria, with the town of Mildura in for 44C which is frankly uncivilised and shouldn’t be allowed.
Meanwhile, if you’re travelling in the north-east of the state over the weekend, try to avoid that bit of highway, unless you’re keen for massive delays and possible tar-bogging, dinosaur style.
VicRoads has released a statement saying that they’re working to fix the sticky situation:
The contractors are currently working to reopen both lanes to clear the traffic backlog, however one lane southbound will remain closed during the repairs tonight and tomorrow. Motorists are advised to expect delays or take alternative routes if possible.
Best of luck, mates.
