Drivers traveling along a stretch of U.S. Highway 69 between Greenville and Celeste are still being warned about rough pavement after extreme heat caused part of the roadway to soften, prompting what many described as a “melting road.” Repair work scheduled for Monday was delayed because of r ain. A Texas Department of Transportation spokesperson said repairs are expected to take place over the next two weeks, weather permitting. TxDOT Jul 11 TxDOT: Emergency road repair in Hunt County along US 69 Monday Warning signs now alert drivers to the rough road south in Celeste, where motorists say the pavement remains noticeably uneven. “It’s bad. It’s really, really bad,” Hunt County driver Sherri Algood said. “It’s just bumpy.” Last Thursday, drivers reported chunks of pavement coming loose, with some of the asphalt sticking to vehicle tires. The problems developed while traffic was backed up on the two-lane highway as crews worked to clear a crash involving a tractor-trailer. “The other day, on Thursday, it was like the car melted into the road. Nobody could get by. It was a complete disaster,” Hunt County driver Leonard Graves said. The unusual reports sparked speculation among residents about what caused the pavement to fail. TxDOT said extreme heat was the primary factor. According to the agency, traffic sitting on the highway while the crash was cleared increased pavement temperatures, while some drivers making U-turns helped break apart the already softened asphalt. A TxDOT spokesperson said the oil-based material used to bind the aggregate together can soften, or become “reactivated,” during periods of extreme heat, causing the pavement to become sticky. For some longtime Texans, the explanation was surprising. “No ma’am I have not,” Hunt County driver Doug Milton said when asked whether he had ever heard of roads melting in Texas. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication. This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less