High-traction anti-icing roadway cover system

Not applicable. A high traction anti-icing road cover system; the system includes a pair of base magnetic covers, for example steel plates or flexible non-porous magnetic layers, disposed in grooves in a road surface, such as a bridge span or deck, along the expected tire tracks followed by vehicles. A road cover is constructed of a lamination of a flexible non-porous magnetic layer, an intermediate thermal insulating layer and a tube layer including a plurality of bonded parallel tubes. The plurality of tubes extend obliquely across the width of each road cover. Most of the tubes contain a substance that collapses upon the temperature falling below about freezing; other tubes remain extended above the collapsed surface, to provide better traction in the event of icing of the road surface. All of the tubes are somewhat deformable by the weight of passing vehicles, which mechanically breaks forming ice. Selected tubes may contain a heating coil, coupled to a switch that controllably applies current thereto. Other tubes have their interiors coupled to a supply of anti-icing chemical fluid, and orifices at their surface, to dispense the fluid under the control of a valve that controls the amount and timing of the dispensing. A system control module is used to control the current and control valve, in response to temperature, precipitation, and ice sensors at the road surface.