WASHINGTON (July 7, 2026) – As a dangerous heat wave carves through regions in the United States, transportation agencies are responding to buckled highways, damaged pavement and other infrastructure failures caused by extreme temperatures.
The strain of excessive heat on roads and bridges is raising questions about how engineers can better design, monitor and maintain transportation systems as climate extremes become more common.
Kim Roddis, professor emerita of civil and environmental engineering at the George Washington University, is a registered professional engineer with expertise in heavy industrial and commercial building design, bridge engineering and the use of artificial intelligence and advanced computing methods to solve complex civil engineering challenges.
Roddis can discuss why extreme heat causes concrete pavement to buckle and asphalt roadways to soften or deform and why certain types of roads, bridges and transportation infrastructure are vulnerable during prolonged heat waves.
To arrange an interview with Professor Roddis, please contact Claire Sabin at claire [dot] sabin
gwu [dot] edu (claire[dot]sabin[at]gwu[dot]edu).
-GW-