Nighttime Visibility of 3M AWP and 3M 380WR ES Durable Tape under Dry, Wet, and Rainy Conditions

Snow plowable raised pavement markers (RPMs) have been used in Ohio for the last four decades to provide visual guidance to motorists under inclement weather conditions. In recent years, due to the extended pavement resurfacing cycle employed by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), rare incidents have occurred where the aged pavement surface failed to provide adequate support to the RPM castings. As a result, ODOT adopted a rigorous plan to identify and replace loose RPMs. In addition, ODOT initiated this study to evaluate the performance of other alternative materials and determine whether they can provide equivalent or better delineation than the existing system. These materials included 3M all weather paint (AWP) and 3M 380 wet retroreflective (WR) extended season (ES) durable tape, in addition to the standard extruded thermoplastic that is commonly being used by ODOT on new asphalt surfaces. All materials were installed on Interstate 70 following an asphalt resurfacing project. The 3M AWP was installed on rumble strips and on the surface, while the 3M 380WR ES durable tape and the extruded thermoplastic were installed in groove and on the surface. These materials were evaluated for dry and wet retroreflectivity, dry and wet night visibility, daytime color, and durability for a period of 1.5 years. As expected, the extruded thermoplastic had the lowest retroreflectivity values and night visibility distances under wet conditions. The 3M AWP and the 3M 380WR ES durable tape provided high initial dry and wet retroreflectivity and night visibility. However, their performance was significantly compromised during the first and second winter seasons due to traffic and snow plowing activities. Finally, the RPMs had consistently higher wet night visibility distances than all pavement markings. Therefore, it was concluded that given the harsh environmental conditions in Ohio, it will not be cost effective to use 3M AWP or 3M 380WR ES durable tape as a replacement for RPMs.

• Record URL:
  • http://worldcat.org/oclc/798348428/viewonline
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Akron

  Department of Civil Engineering
  Akron, OH  United States  44325-3905

  Ohio Department of Transportation

  Office of Research and Development
  1980 West Broad Street
  Columbus, OH  United States  43223

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Abbas, Ala R
  • Sarker, Priyanka
• Publication Date: 2012-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 103p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Color; Durability; Night visibility; Raised road markings; Retroreflectivity; Road marking tapes; Road markings; Thermoplastic materials; Traffic paint; Wet weather
• Geographic Terms: Ohio
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; Operations and Traffic Management; I35: Miscellaneous Materials; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01374550
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/OH-2012/6
• Contract Numbers: State Job No. 134563
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 5 2012 4:13PM