Fighting the heat requires action on all fronts, even if that means using methods that may seem surprising. Example in Brittany where the authorities put lime on the roads for reasons of comfort and safety.
Ille-et-Vilaine is not known for its heat. However, this Breton area is also affected by drought and heat waves. It is so true that the roads deform and disintegrate under the influence of temperatures. So to lower the thermometer to the level of bitumen, the department now resorts to an amazing solution: it pours whitewash on its roads.
To look :
Jean-Baptiste Lecornue, road inspector driver for the department of Ille-et-Vilaine:
“The whiteness of the milk of lime allows the heat to reflect, making the road less warm. We treat preventively for the hot weather.”
“Between the still black road on one side and the white chalk on the other, we still went up to a 15°C difference.”
The ideal would probably be to plant trees where possible to provide shade on these roads and lower temperatures on the ground, while limiting the acceleration of global warming. But in the meantime, here’s a solution that seems effective, both in terms of temperature and safety.