ROSALIA, Wash. — The Washington State Department of Transportation responded to an incident of road-buckling in Whitman County this week.
It happened about 21 miles north of Colfax, along U.S. 195 next to the Horn School Rest Area. WASHDOT crews posted a picture of it to their social media account yesterday, telling the public that they would have it under control shortly.
Ryan Overton, the Communications Manager at the Washington State Department of Transportation, says that this doesn’t normally happen to newer roads.
“It’s typically older roads. This stretch of U.S. 195 is an older stretch of concrete built in the 50’s and 60’s… so it’s coming towards the end of it’s lifespan,” said Overton.
WASHDOT says that roads buckle when the concrete slabs, placed on many U.S. roads, expands and contrasts under extreme temperatures. During their movement, they have the ability to push into each other, sometimes violently, and shoot upwards.
“And it actually sounds like a bit of a firecracker when it happens,” says Overton.
KNDU reached out to the cities of Kennewick, Pasco, Richland and Yakima to find out it’s road history and conditions, but have not heard back yet.
