America Has a Hot-Steel Problem

The increasing heat due to climate change is significantly impacting America's infrastructure, particularly railways, roads, and power lines. As temperatures rise, steel expands, leading to warped and buckled train tracks, which can be mitigated by slowing trains, leaving gaps in tracks, or painting them white to reflect heat. However, these solutions may result in slower travel and increased maintenance costs. High temperatures also affect bridges and roads, causing them to buckle, while power lines struggle to deliver electricity under heat stress, exacerbating demand during peak usage times. To address these challenges, engineers are urged to incorporate climate projections into building codes, which currently rely on historical data. The American Society of Civil Engineers is working to update these codes, but adoption varies by state and local governments. Experts suggest that rather than attempting to fortify all existing infrastructure, a more practical approach would be to prioritize critical systems, such as water and power, and design them to be resilient to failures. This includes creating community resources like cooling centers during heat waves. While engineering solutions are possible, the costs and political will to implement them remain significant hurdles. The urgency of adapting infrastructure to withstand rising temperatures is critical, as current construction efforts may not keep pace with the accelerating impacts of climate change.

- Rising temperatures are causing significant issues for U.S. infrastructure, particularly railways and power lines.

- Engineers are encouraged to incorporate climate projections into building codes to enhance resilience.

- Solutions may involve prioritizing critical infrastructure and designing systems to be safe to fail.

- The cost and political challenges of implementing necessary changes are significant obstacles.

- Current construction efforts may not be sufficient to address the rapid impacts of climate change.