Summer is road buckle season

(COLUMBIA, MO) -

Pavement buckles are a common occurrence around the country during times of warmer temperatures and moisture. Columbia typically experiences two to three major buckles on City streets or sidewalks each year.

A buckle occurs when the surface of the road expands at a joint or crack in the pavement after moisture has seeped underneath. Rising heat causes the moisture to expand and create a warp or buckle in the pavement.

These buckles often occur relatively fast and are difficult to predict. Columbia Public Works has crews on call 24/7 to respond to emergency road hazards. While Street Division crews stay on the lookout for buckles during the summer, it also depends on motorists, nonmotorized transportation users and pedestrians to report them. During normal business hours, call the City of Columbia Contact Center at 573-874-CITY (2489). On weekends, holidays and after hours, please call 3-1-1.

Reporting Pavement Buckles

• Call City: 573-874-CITY (2489) (normal business hours)
• Relay Missouri: 711 (hearing and/or speech impaired)
• Email: [email protected] (Columbia Public Works email)
• Dial 311: Boone County Joint Communications (weekends, holidays and after hours)
• Call MoDOT: 888-275-6636 (Missouri Department of Transportation roads)