RETENTION OF REFLECTIVE RAISED PAVEMENT MARKERS. INTERIM REPORT

This report is the third in a series of four, and it presents the procedures and results of various studies conducted to determine (1) the causes of marker retention failures, and (2) possible countermeasures to increase the service life of markers and traffic buttons. It was clearly established that marker retention is an inverse function of the number of tire hits. Truck tires, especially high pressure tires are particularly damaging. So one of the recommended marker retention categories was to place the reflective markers behind the solid paint stripe they supplement, thus protecting them from many hits. Because of rapid loss rates, resulting in poor cost-benefit ratios, it is suggested the markers not be used to supplement lane line stripes on asphalt surfaces. The plastic 2x4 markers are the poorest performers, so far as retention is concerned, and should not be considered for Texas highways. The oval shaped ceramic markers proved to be the best performers on all paving material so far as retention is concerned. This was especially true when the markers were manufactured with small, round studs on the bond surface as originally suggested by Mr. H. D. Jones, District 12. See also TRIS 460269, 460270, and 460272.

• Record URL:
  • https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/hostedpdfs/tti/322-3.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/85837
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System, 1600 E Lamar Boulevard
  Arlington, TX  United States  76011

  Texas State Department of Highways & Public Transportation

  Transportation Planning Division, P.O. Box 5051
  Austin, TX  United States  78763

  Federal Highway Administration

  Engineering Research and Development Bureau, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • McNees, R W
  • Noel, J S
• Publication Date: 1986-10

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: 183 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Ceramic materials; Countermeasures; Durability; Failure; Loss and damage; Plastics; Raised road markings; Reflective signs; Service life; Tires; Trucks
• Uncontrolled Terms: Causes
• Old TRIS Terms: Raised traffic markings; Reflector markers
• Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Motor Carriers; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I35: Miscellaneous Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00460271
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/TX-86/10+322-3
• Contract Numbers: Study 2-18-82-322
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Dec 31 1986 12:00AM