Evaluation of Pavement Marking Performance

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices provides general guidelines for the application and installation of pavement markings. However, performance requirements for various types of pavement markings are not included. Kentucky's Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction contain pavement marking materials composition specifications; however, performance measures have not been included. Project-specific performance measures have been included in some contract documents; however, this is not a standardized procedure. Installations of pavement markings have been observed to prematurely fail or deteriorate at an accelerated pace. Overall, there is a need to understand the useful life of various pavement markings including paints, thermoplastics, tapes, and raised pavement markers. A wide range of issues should be addressed, including material specifications, application procedures, useful life, and costs. Guidelines and/or warrants for pavement markings should also be addressed, including lane width, AADT, geometries, and functional class. Recent national research (NCHRP Report 518) has questioned the effectiveness of raised markers on two-lane roadways. Raised markers were first used in Kentucky in the 1970's with snowplowable markers used starting in the 1980's. The only statewide evaluation of the effectiveness of raised markers was conducted in 1981. Additional issues related to raised pavement markers include the installation procedures and overall durability.