In cold-climate regions such as the northern U.S. and Canada, large amounts of solid and liquid chemicals (known as deicers) as well as abrasives are applied onto winter highways to keep them clear of ice and snow. Transportation agencies are under increasing pressure to maintain high levels of safety and mobility even during the winter months, while working with limited financial and staffing resources and recognizing the corrosion and environmental challenges related to chemical and material usage. Currently, maintenance personnel at the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) utilize two primary compounds for anti-icing and deicing operations, i.e., NaCl (salt) mixed with sand, and MgCl2 liquid deicer. According to the field experience by CDOT, MgCl2 outperformed the salt-sand mixture as a deicer, demonstrating that it is more effective, less toxic, and less corrosive. It also significantly decreases the amount of sediment entering Colorado’s streams and particulates entering the air. CDOT has thus shifted from using primarily NaCl and sand to using MgCl2 liquid deicers for wintertime operation and maintenance of state and national highway systems over the past several years. However, some local governments have banned the use of MgCl2 and returned to using salt-sand mixtures. Consequently, CDOT is interested in efforts to further examine the suitability, acceptability, and good performance record demonstrated by MgCl2 and the continued use of salt-sand mixtures. To this end, CDOT is sponsoring a current research program to identify non-corrosive, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective deicers with good performances in anti-icing and deicing. Through this project, WTI will conduct complementary laboratory testing that will provide additional information through the application of novel laboratory techniques. Specifically, the laboratory investigation will focus on evaluating the impact of deicers on the microstructure of the concrete and on the pavement friction coefficient, two key performance components with infrastructure and safety implications.