"EVERYTHING'S UP-TO-DATE IN KANSAS CITY" goes the Broadway tune from "Oklahoma!" In terms of de-icing and snow-melting sidewalks in wintry cities, Kansas City, Mo., is beyond up-to-date. As snow fell on city streets in December 2019, platforms along the Prospect Max bus route were clear and dry, thanks to conductive concrete. It is a mixture containing electrically conductive components in a regular concrete and an automatic low-voltage system that turns on when moisture is detected in the air and the outside temperature drops below 38°F. This emerging technology is being used to de-ice sidewalks, parking garages, highway bridges and airport runways in central and eastern parts of the United States.
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