If designed properly, a good deal of sand could be recollected in the stormwater infrastructure and be reused. Some would still escape but i guess its better than the current mix of salt and sand that doesn’t get reused.
It takes incredible amounts of energy to melt snow. Michigan gets most of its electricity from natural gas and still has significant coal fired plants.
Ah, right. Obviously. Because the same amount of water needs to change phase.
Still, in that time this road will be walkable, while others may not. And you still avoid the piles of snow and salt runoff that come with a non-heated surface.
Seems like they are only installing the heat under the roadway, so walkable may not be the best word unless we expect pedestrains to share a lane with cars in the winter.
Seems like they are only installing the heat under the roadway, so walkable may not be the best word unless we expect pedestrains to share a lane with cars in the winter.
There aren’t many cars that use this street. Traffic historically is: people going into the less-utilized side of the parking garage under the performance hall/convention center, valet parking for the hotel, and loading/unloading of shows at the performance hall or ballroom. It’s a small street with a turnaround at the end, and then the Grand River. And a walking bridge across said river to the Gerald R Ford Presidential Library and Museum.
Even though it sure seems like the construction is completed, that parking garage entrance/exit still has not reopened. I’m not sure it will (which is very mildly frustrating for me, I perform at that hall a few times a year and prefer that access point because most people use the other).
They’ve added new pedestrian-focused stuff closer to the river, like a nice seating area and a better flow to the walking bridge. I wouldn’t be shocked if they already heated these sidewalks. This also improves access to the area behind the performance hall and convention center, which has some nice tables and seating and a good view of the river.
This all complements the ongoing “Restore the Rapids” project, which is aiming to make the river more pleasing to look at (it’s already beautiful, it’s just rather tame nowadays after various efforts over the last 175 years or so to harness it).
Anyway, my point is that street already served more pedestrians than cars before this redesign effort, and I suspect it will be even more pedestrian-focused now.
Depends on sunlight, and the color of the pavement. For dark asphalt, simply preventing a dusting of white snow goes a long way at converting the sunlight into heat, basically for free.
The warm melt water also messes up the environment. It can cause egg and insect hatches to happen early before an abundance of spring food is available. The snow melting immediately after falling could also impact natural melt cycles that more gradually add water to the streams, creeks, and rivers
I mean, this saves salt from going and wrecking the environment
just use coarse sand, prevents slipping on ice.
done
Sand is a temporary solution
As a fun fact, it’s also a non renewable resource that we consume way too much of
If designed properly, a good deal of sand could be recollected in the stormwater infrastructure and be reused. Some would still escape but i guess its better than the current mix of salt and sand that doesn’t get reused.
It takes incredible amounts of energy to melt snow. Michigan gets most of its electricity from natural gas and still has significant coal fired plants.
It takes much less energy to prevent the accumulation in the first place. Which is the goal with this sort of setup.
It takes exactly the same amount of power. It’s just spread over a longer time period.
Ah, right. Obviously. Because the same amount of water needs to change phase.
Still, in that time this road will be walkable, while others may not. And you still avoid the piles of snow and salt runoff that come with a non-heated surface.
Seems like they are only installing the heat under the roadway, so walkable may not be the best word unless we expect pedestrains to share a lane with cars in the winter.
There aren’t many cars that use this street. Traffic historically is: people going into the less-utilized side of the parking garage under the performance hall/convention center, valet parking for the hotel, and loading/unloading of shows at the performance hall or ballroom. It’s a small street with a turnaround at the end, and then the Grand River. And a walking bridge across said river to the Gerald R Ford Presidential Library and Museum.
Even though it sure seems like the construction is completed, that parking garage entrance/exit still has not reopened. I’m not sure it will (which is very mildly frustrating for me, I perform at that hall a few times a year and prefer that access point because most people use the other).
They’ve added new pedestrian-focused stuff closer to the river, like a nice seating area and a better flow to the walking bridge. I wouldn’t be shocked if they already heated these sidewalks. This also improves access to the area behind the performance hall and convention center, which has some nice tables and seating and a good view of the river.
This all complements the ongoing “Restore the Rapids” project, which is aiming to make the river more pleasing to look at (it’s already beautiful, it’s just rather tame nowadays after various efforts over the last 175 years or so to harness it).
Anyway, my point is that street already served more pedestrians than cars before this redesign effort, and I suspect it will be even more pedestrian-focused now.
Depends on sunlight, and the color of the pavement. For dark asphalt, simply preventing a dusting of white snow goes a long way at converting the sunlight into heat, basically for free.
Ok, just plow it first like other areas do. Then maintain it/melt the ice with the roads.
The warm melt water also messes up the environment. It can cause egg and insect hatches to happen early before an abundance of spring food is available. The snow melting immediately after falling could also impact natural melt cycles that more gradually add water to the streams, creeks, and rivers
Yeah but the snow here is getting melted regardless. Look at the location. All of thats invalid.
Many cities will carry their snow away and let it melt naturally in the spring, helping keep local waterways high during the spring run off.
Well fair. I didn’t think of that when I posted my comment.
But you’re not thinking that they can still do that with the bulk of the snow on these roads. Then just maintain them with the heated roads.