Heat takes its toll on Utah's roads and residents

Heat takes its toll on Utah's roads and residents


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SALT LAKE CITY — The lakes and reservoirs are shockingly low. Rivers are drier than they've been in years and the roads are buckling under the blazing sun. Fifteen days of 100-degree weather or higher is causing all kinds of problems, and has people talking about what to do.

An older portion of I-15 was the latest victim of the heat Sunday.

"We generally deal with maybe three to five buckling incidents a year," said John Gleason with the Utah Department of Transportation. "This year we're already had more than a dozen, up to 16 in the Salt Lake County area.

As far as road work goes, UDOT does have plans to replace the stretch of freeway with issues, but it will be a couple of years before that happens. In the meantime, hey have crews patrolling the area frequently, looking for trouble spots.

For people like road crews who are forced to be outside, hydration is key, but at Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center, a who other kind of hydration was under way, with was plenty of water to go around.

For a few, swimming in the cool water just wasn't enough.

"I just always want to roll in the snow all the time but that won't happen for a while," said one swimmer.

In the meantime, some shave ice might be the next best thing. Bob Stark, owner of Hokulia Shave Ice in Taylorsville, said the 100 degree temperatures are bringing in customers in droves.

Regardless of how you're keeping cool, you'll want to keep in mind that the heat will be with us for a while longer.

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Jennifer Stagg

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