Reports of roads melting in the East of England rose by 67% over three years, according to data obtained by the BBC.
Comparable figures from eight highways authorities show that reported cases increased from 33 in the 2023-24 financial year to 55 in 2025-26. Information supplied to the BBC indicates that the region’s authorities dealt with more than 200 cases over the past four years.
Road closures during high temperatures
The A143 at Stanton, near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, was closed as an emergency measure earlier in 2026 after patches of asphalt were reported to have lifted under vehicles. The road surface had reportedly melted during high temperatures on a previous occasion that year.
The BBC requested information from all highways authorities in the East of England on instances of road surfaces melting because of hot weather in each financial year since 2023.
Experts told the BBC that the issue was partly linked to much of the UK road network having been designed for cooler conditions rather than prolonged periods of what they described as “extreme heat”.
DfT support
The Department for Transport said it was supporting local highway authorities in improving the resilience of their road networks through guidance, tools and other resources.