KENT COUNTY, Mich. — There is just no way of getting around it this week, it is going to be hot for everyone who steps outside in West Michigan.
Some of us can beat the heat by working indoors, but what about those whose job requires them to be outside?
In a job like road work, hot summer days are just part of the beast of tackling road construction.
“It can get pretty hot, especially when we have fresh asphalt,” said Scott Freeland.
Kent County Road Worker Scott Freeland is braving the heat to run the left side of the paver machine, for the second summer in a row.
"I like to be one of the operators. I tried it and I’ve liked it ever since,” said Freeland.
He said that on hot days like we'll see this week, workers get creative to try and stay cool.
"We get ample water breaks. We'll find shade if we can find shade and wide brim hats, like they're wearing over there, that helps keep us cool,” said Freeland.
Road officials say on projects like laying new asphalt, the asphalt itself can reach up to 350 degrees.
That's on top of the high temps and humidity mother nature adds to the job.
“It's really standing on the back of that [machine] really radiates the heat up. But when you're working, you're focused on working, so you don't know the heat as much as it really is,” said Freeland.
Which is why he said a foreman will watch the crew and judge when it’s time to take a break and get water.
Because even in the heat, someone's got to fix the roads to help us drive safely.
“It's just part of our job, and we're, we're just working through the heat,” said Freeman.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Watch 13 ON YOUR SIDE for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV and on your phone.