Overview
- High temperatures during the late-May heatwave softened and in places melted road surfaces, leaving the A143 through Stanton closed while Suffolk County Council assesses damage and plans short-term patching.
- National Highways identified an eastbound defect on the A14 near the Orwell Bridge as heat-related and scheduled overnight resurfacing and lane closures to make the route safe.
- A heavy goods vehicle fire on the M5 near Droitwich caused severe surface damage, required emergency overnight resurfacing and the carriageway was fully reopened on Thursday morning after more than 30 hours.
- Separate lorry fires — including an A14 trailer carrying shredded fabric and a blaze on the A9 south of Dunkeld — forced local closures, firefighting, targeted resurfacing and temporary traffic controls as crews damped down hotspots.
- Highways and emergency services are using sand, granite dust, patching and overnight resurfacing while warning that cooler, dry conditions are needed for tarmac to cure and that longer-term road materials and planning will be needed to reduce repeat damage and knock-on congestion for commuters and events such as the Suffolk Show.