Michigan Bridge Receives Anti-Icing Pavement Overlay
Thanks to new technology developed at Michigan Tech University, the Looking Glass River Bridge in Lansing, MI, is ready to resist ice and snow this winter. Last spring, the Michigan Department of Transportation used the technology to coat the bridge with SafeLane pavement overlay, which combines epoxy and aggregate rock. With SafeLane, road crews apply liquid anti-icing chemicals to the overlay, before winter storms strike. The material then acts like a rigid sponge, storing the chemicals inside the overlay and automatically releasing them as conditions develop for ice and snow to accumulate. The overlay continues to release anti-icing chemicals over multiple events, greatly reducing the need to dispatch highway maintenance crews in the midst of a snowstorm. In addition, SafeLane can extend the life of roads and bridges by acting as a sealant that reduces the effects of chloride and water intrusion. SafeLane is licensed and marketed by Cargill, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. The Lansing project marked the 13th installation of SafeLane at sites in seven states. Cargill, Inc., Minneapolis, MN
