Germany's Roads Are Built for Yesterday's Climate, Not Tomorrow's Reality Germany's beloved Autobahn is struggling to withstand the unprecedented heat waves that have forced authorities to temporarily shut down sections of the highway.
The country's roads are designed to handle temperatures ranging from minus 30C to plus 45C, but climate models suggest that in some regions, temperatures could exceed 45C by at least 2040.
The problem lies in the bitumen based asphalt used in most of Germany's roads, which is prone to heat damage.