Reports of roads melting in the East of England have risen by 67% over the last three years, data obtained by the BBC reveals. Highways authorities in the region reported over 200 cases of melting roads in the past four years.
Experts indicate that a contributing factor is that most UK roads are designed for cooler conditions, rather than extended periods of "extreme heat." The Department for Transport (DfT) stated it is assisting local highway authorities to enhance the resilience of road networks through guidance, tools, and resources.
Earlier this year, the A143 at Stanton, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, was closed as an emergency measure after asphalt patches were reportedly lifted by vehicles. This was the second instance this year of the road surface melting due to high temperatures.
Comparable figures from eight authorities show that the number of melted road cases increased from 33 in 2023-24 to 55 in 2025-26. In Suffolk, instances rose from three to eight, while Norfolk saw "dustings" – the spreading of sand or stone to prevent tarmac melting – increase from 29 to 46.
Dr Mashael Kamran, a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Cambridge, noted that when air temperatures reach 30C, road surfaces can climb to 50C. The Chartered Institute for Highways and Transportation (CIHT) added that some roads begin to soften above 50C.