Cape Girardeau roads buckling under summer heat as temperatures continue to rise

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) — Rising temperatures are warping roads in Cape Girardeau. With more heat on the way, officials urge caution and quick reporting of road damage.

A now-viral video taken Sunday shows a car going airborne on Siemers Drive in Cape Girardeau after a section of pavement buckled nearly 12-18 inches.

By Monday, a fresh layer of asphalt had patched the problem. Drivers are now moving through the area again without issue, but the city crews are staying on alert.

On Broadway street, cones are now marking a section of rising pavement. Officials say more buckling is possible if high heat and humidity persist.

But some drivers say they’re not too worried. They’ve seen road damage before.

“I’ve lived in towns where there were sinkholes,” Cameron Bennett said. “It’s just one of those things.”

Buckling roads aren’t the only thing to worry about in the heat. Tracy Roberts said her biggest concern is that her air conditioning is out.

Similar weather conditions in Illinois prompted IDOT to warn drivers of the continued risk of pavement failures.

They added that if people must travel during the extreme heat, to bring drinking water. Officials said becoming stranded could be dangerous without proper hydration as dehydration can occur quickly in these conditions.