INVESTIGATION OF THE IMPACT OF SNOW REMOVAL ACTIVITIES ON PAVEMENT MARKINGS IN VIRGINIA. FINAL REPORT
Snow removal activities resulted in substantial damage to pavement markings in Virginia over the last 2 years. Typically, the estimates of the extent of pavement marking damage are based on the observations of the staff of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). For example, it was estimated that about half of the pavement markings statewide were damaged during the 1993-94 winter and that replacement costs were $8 million. The objective of this study was to obtain accurate data on the pavement marking damage caused exclusively by carbide-tipped blades. Data were collected at 22 study sites on interstate highways and principal arterials because of the prevalence of a variety of pavement markings and the designation of these roads as high-priority routes for snow removal. Three types of pavement markings - latex paint, thermoplastic, and waffle tape - were assessed for damage. For the study sites, damage caused by snow plows during the 1994-95 winter were estimated to be between $100,100 and $137,700 for waffle tape and $400 to $600 for paint, for a total of $100,500 to $138,300. The estimated retroreflectivity loss of 10 to 15% for both markings represented the majority of the costs. About $25,000 of the damage to waffle tape was for markings that were plowed from the roadway. There was no evidence that thermoplastic markings incurred much damage. This is probably because there were few or no instances where ice bonded to the pavement markings. It is believed that thermoplastic marking damage is greatest when this bonding occurs. Moreover, there is less confidence in the before data for thermoplastic markings. Based on data gathered at the study sites, the estimated statewide cost of damage caused by snow plows was between $1.58 and $2.26 million for waffle tape and between $1.06 and $1.59 million for paint, for a total of between $2.64 and $3.85 million. It should be noted, however, that the 1994-95 winter was relatively mild compared to a typical winter in Virginia. The study recommends that VDOT (1) take measures to protect its investment in pavement markings from snow plow damage, (2) comprehensively assess pavement marking damage caused by other maintenance activities, and (3) designate the inlaid method as the primary installation method for waffle tape.
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- Record URL:
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Corporate Authors:
Virginia Transportation Research Council
530 Edgemont Road
Charlottesville, VA United States 22903Virginia Department of Transportation
1401 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA United States 23219Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Authors:
- Cottrell Jr, B H
- Publication Date: 1995-9
Language
- English
Media Info
- Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 33 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Loss and damage; Recommendations; Road marking tapes; Road markings; Snow removal; Snowplows; Thermoplastic materials
- Uncontrolled Terms: Damages; Replacement costs; Waffle tape
- Old TRIS Terms: Latex paints; Traffic marking tapes
- Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Research; Vehicles and Equipment; I62: Winter Maintenance;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00720221
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/VA-96-R3, VTRC 96-R3
- Contract Numbers: 0149-030-940
- Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
- Created Date: Apr 18 1996 12:00AM