Wisconsin's Roads Buckle Under Unprecedented 2025 Heat Wave, Raising Calls for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure and Fossil Fuel Accountability

By Dean Muller, President, Wisconsin for Environmental Justice

Wisconsin is grappling with a severe infrastructure crisis as an intense heat wave sweeps across the state, causing roads to buckle alarmingly. This year alone, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has reported over 60 instances of pavement buckling, with a staggering 53 reported this past weekend alone. This starkly contrasts with last year's total of 53 incidents for all last year, highlighting the unprecedented impact of the current extreme temperatures.

The widespread damage has affected roadways in numerous areas, including major arteries in Milwaukee, St. Francis, Hartford, and across Eau Claire and Chippewa counties. This has created hazardous driving conditions and snarled traffic. Highway crews are working extended hours, battling the scorching heat, repairing the damaged pavement and ensure public safety.

The phenomenon of buckling roads is a direct consequence of the extreme heat. Pavement slabs, primarily concrete, expand significantly when temperatures soar. When this expansion is restricted, the immense pressure causes the pavement to push against itself, eventually buckling upward or creating dangerous dips. This effect is exacerbated by rapid temperature shifts from cooler to extremely hot conditions.

The current crisis has ignited a broader conversation about the long-term sustainability of Wisconsin's infrastructure in the face of a changing climate. Experts and advocates point to the excessive use of fossil fuels as a primary driver of the escalating temperatures and the subsequent damage to public infrastructure. The increased frequency and intensity of heat waves, directly linked to greenhouse gas emissions, impose significant and unexpected maintenance costs on cities and counties.

This financial burden leads to calls for accountability from the fossil fuel industry. Proponents argue that the sector whose activities contribute to climate change, causing such damage, should bear a portion of these additional maintenance costs. They contend that such a measure would provide much-needed financial relief to local governments and incentivize a shift towards cleaner energy sources.

Beyond immediate repairs, there is a growing consensus on the urgent need for long-term solutions. Cities and counties are urged to invest in improving roadbeds and utilizing more heat-resilient materials and construction techniques. As Wisconsin prepares for what is expected to be a future with consistently higher temperatures, adapting infrastructure to withstand these extreme conditions is no longer a luxury but a critical necessity. Innovations like thermochromic asphalt, which changes color to reflect more sunlight and reduce heat absorption, are being explored as potential avenues for future road construction.

WisDOT urges motorists to exercise extreme caution when driving, slow down, and remain vigilant for unexpected bumps or dips in the road. Drivers should also be prepared to move over for highway crews working tirelessly to address the damage. Reporting serious pavement issues to 911 with specific location information is crucial to assisting repair efforts and maintaining road safety during this challenging heat wave.

Read More Here about Local Effects of Climate Change