Potholes are the usual basis of complaints about Hertfordshire’s roads, but the recent summer heatwave has now caused some of the county’s highways to melt.
Around half a dozen roads have been gritted over the past few weeks, including the B487 Redbourn Road/Hemel Hempstead Road.
But, unlike in winter when salt is used to prevent ice forming on roads, this grit is a high-grip formula which helps prevent the excess bitumen in the roads – the stuff which holds the asphalt together – from melting.
Herts County Council is carrying out the work with highways contractor Ringway. Spokesman Jo Brown said: “This problem is not common and it generally needs a long hot period for it to appear at all.
“We are monitoring a number of potentially vulnerable sites around the county and Ringway have the resources ready to grit more if necessary.”