FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The intense heatwaves that have swept across Europe are exposing the vulnerabilities of transport infrastructure, forcing authorities to take extraordinary measures to protect airports, railways and roads from damage.
One of the most unusual cases was recorded at Oslo Airport, where maintenance crews used about 9,000 liters of water to cool the runway and avoid the asphalt from deforming under the weight of the aircraft.
In the Norwegian capital, temperatures reached around 30 degrees Celsius, approximately 10 degrees above the normal average for this period.
Experts warn that Europe's infrastructure is facing a new climate reality. Many of its roads, railways and airports were built for more moderate conditions and are not designed for long periods of extreme temperatures.
Problems have also emerged in rail transport. Extreme heat can cause tracks to expand and warp, damage signalling systems and disrupt power supplies. A European Union report shows that over 70% of rail operators have experienced problems related to extreme weather.
Faced with these challenges, some countries have launched major investments. Britain has planned about $3.5 billion to modernize its rail network and adapt it to climate change.
In Stockholm, authorities have tried a unique solution by painting some segments of the subway tracks white to reflect sunlight and reduce their temperature.
International rail transport is also changing standards. Eurostar has decided that new trains will be designed to operate in temperatures of up to 55 degrees Celsius, while the £1.7 billion investment will bring 50 new trains that are expected to be in use by the 2060s.
Meanwhile, road networks are facing the same problem. Engineers point out that many highways in Northern Europe were built primarily to withstand harsh winters, not record summer temperatures.
Norwegian authorities have announced that future infrastructure projects will be built according to new standards, taking into account both extreme frosts and increasingly frequent heat waves.
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