Pave Guard Technologies, a Lee's Summit, Missouri firm, will be tabbed to design the solar power systems. They will be installed on two bridges on Route 10 near Excelsior Springs, a town near Kansas City.
Pave Guard's systems use solar panels to heat an antifreeze solution. The solution circulates in pipes underneath the pavement, keeping ice from forming and making roads safer in wintry conditions.
The technology addresses two problems that cold-weather states face. Because the ground holds the sun's heat, bridges - with no ground underneath - freeze before other road surfaces. And the chemicals used to melt ice degrade roads and corrode bridges' supports, necessitating more frequent repairs. "If we can find a cost effective way to keep a bridge clear without using chemicals, we can extend its life," said state bridge engineer Dennis Heckman.
As a bonus, the solar panels in Pave Guard's installations will generate energy that can be fed back into the grid in warmer conditions.
