Tractors and spreaders are laying a fine 3mm layer of stone dust across roads in Devon, including the Torquay area, as surface temperatures are expected to reach around 60°C, Devon County Council has confirmed. The treatment stops tarmac from softening and becoming sticky in the extreme heat, keeping routes safer for drivers after a cold, wet winter left surfaces more vulnerable to damage.
Crews began treating major roads earlier this week and are now expanding the work to other routes across the county. The specialist equipment spreads a fine coating of stone that helps maintain friction for vehicle tyres. The council is advising motorists to take extra care in the hot conditions, particularly on rural roads and freshly treated surfaces.
This is not the first time the council has turned to dusting during a heatwave. In July 2022, one of the hottest summers on record, road temperatures in Devon approached 57°C and left surfaces tacky and, in some places, melting. The gritting fleet, normally used for winter weather, was deployed then with similar sand and dust spreading equipment. Councillor Stuart Hughes, cabinet member for highway management, said at the time: “Where we see roads becoming tacky with the heat, we are ready to dust them to improve friction, so drivers need to stay alert and reduce their speed as they would on newly gritted or treated roads.”
Roads have been under particular strain this year after a wet and cold winter that increased their susceptibility to heat damage. The current operation will continue while the heatwave persists.
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