WISCONSIN MAKES HIGHWAY STRIPING SAFER

INITIALLY ALL CENTERLINES WERE BLACK, AND, SINCE BLACK PAINT FLOWS MUCH MORE EASILY THAN EITHER WHITE OR YELLOW, CENTERLINE MAINTENANCE COULD BE CONDUCTED VERY RAPIDLY. HOWEVER, IN THE 1930'S WHITE STRIPES WERE FOUND MORE EFFECTIVE. THE RESULTING SLOWDOWN IN OPERATIONS REQUIRED EXPERIMENTATION IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF APPROPRIATE NO-PASSING ZONES. IN ADDITION, THE SLOW-DRYING PAINT HAD TO BE PROTECTED BY WARNING DEVICES WHOSE DROP-AND-PICKUP OPERATIONS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH MANY ACCIDENTS. WISCONSIN NOW EMPLOYS FIVE PAINT CREWS, OUT OF A STATE TOTAL OF 11, THAT USE HEATED PAINT CARRIED IN CONVERTED COLD-PAINT TRUCKS THAT USE THE HOT WATER IN THE TRUCK'S COOLING SYSTEM TO HEAT THE PAINT TO 118--140 F. PAINT AT THIS TEMPERATURE DRIES IN ABOUT ONE MINUTE, A TIME SHORT ENOUGH SO THAT A SINGLE PICKUP TRUCK FOLLOWING AT 500 FEET PROVIDES SUFFICIENT PROTECTION. IN ADDITION, THE HOT-PAINT SYSTEM MOVES AT 2 MPH FASTER THAN THE COLD-PAINT TRUCKS. ANOTHER CHANGE ASSOCIATED WITH HEATED PAINT HAS LED TO INCREASED CREW SAFETY. IN THE PAST, THE GLASS BEADS WERE POURED INTO A FUNNEL, USUALLY WHILE THE TRUCK WAS IN MOTION, AND DROPPED BY GRAVITY ONTO THE WET PAINT LINE. WHEN WIND WHIPPED THE BEADS, EYES WERE OFTEN INJURED. WITH HEATED PAINT THE GRAVITY-FEED SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION BECAUSE A SURFACE SCUM FORMS BEFORE THE BEADS CAN FALL. A PRESSURE TANK HAS BEEN ADDED THAT, BECAUSE IT HOLDS 950 POUNDS OF BEADS, ENOUGH TO PAINT FOR THE ENTIRE DAY, CAN BE LOADED AT THE SHOP.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1606878
• Authors:
  • Hatcher, H
• Publication Date: 1971-8

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 71-2
• Serial:
  • Public Works
  • Volume: 102
  • Issue Number: 8
  • Publisher: Hanley Wood
  • ISSN: 0033-3840
  • Serial URL: http://www.pwmag.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Center lines; Glass; Heating (Structures); Maintenance personnel; Maintenance practices; No passing zones; Paint; Road markings; Safety
• Old TRIS Terms: Beading; Traffic marking
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00219441
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 8 1974 12:00AM