An NPR member station
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Record-Breaking Heat Damages Northeast Spokane County Road

Courtesy of Spokane County

The record-breaking heat hitting the northwest is damaging infrastructure, including roads in the greater Spokane region.

At least one unincorporated Spokane County road has been closed due to damage caused by the heat. Martha Lou Wheatley-Billeter, the information and outreach coordinator for Spokane County Public Works, said the heat makes the road more susceptible to damage.

“When you’ve got a road surface that’s softening because of the heat, those tires are going to chew up the road surface. It’s not unlike studded tires chewing up asphalt.”

She said the roads are not buckling like some infrastructure is in Western Washington.

The only road that’s currently affected is E Stoneman Road in Northeast Spokane County. Road crews have sprayed water and put sand on the road, and it will be closed until Tuesday.

Related Content