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What is the alternative? Roads that become icy probably destroy cars as well, although in a more pinpoint kind of way. At least road salt doesn't cause a lot of
by saberdancer 7y ago
What is the alternative? Roads that become icy probably destroy cars as well, although in a more pinpoint kind of way. At least road salt doesn't cause a lot of fatalities.
- kijin 7y agoElectric coils under the pavement to keep the surface temperature above freezing. Unfortunately most cities can't afford it, least of all Detroit.
- bcraven 7y agoWhich cities use that technology?
- kijin 7y agoHolland, Michigan for one: https://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/2016/02/why_holland_spends_millions_to.html https://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/2016/02/why_hol...
- Omin 7y agoAs the article states, this system uses waste heat from a power plant transported via water.
- karmicthreat 7y agoThat system is pretty tiny though. It just covers the main strip downtown. Maybe 6 blocks.
- samatman 7y agoAs a sibling points out, these systems use process heat, not electricity. U of M has a steam tunnel system in Ann Arbor, which I believe only covers sidewalks, not roads.
- esotericn 7y agoSurely that's only workable for inside cities. I can't imagine a highway having a coil for hundreds of miles.
- glidej 7y agoSand, for traction, is usually the alternative. It's most commonly used in climates where it gets too cold for salt to be useful.