Project Summary Report 0-4150-S

Project 0-4150: Evaluation of Pavement Marking Effectiveness

Authors: H. Gene Hawkins, Jr., Timothy J. Gates, Elisabeth R. Rose

Pavement Marking Effectiveness and the

Pavement Marking Handbook
Pavement markings provide
one of the primary means of
communicating information to
road users. Unlike traffic signs
and signals, pavement markings
are continuous and provide road
users with valuable information
that helps them properly position
the vehicle within the travel way.
Pavement markings are different
from signs in another way:
pavement markings are typically
manufactured at the location where
they are applied instead of being
manufactured in a factory and sent
to the installation site. As a result,
there is the opportunity for greater
variability in the performance
characteristics of pavement
markings.

What We Did

This project evaluated several

key characteristics associated with
the retroreflective performance of
pavement markings. There were
five major activities associated
with this project:
conduct of two conferences
on pavement marking
performance,
evaluation of pavement
marking retroreflectivity on
flexible pavements (hot-mix
asphalt and surface treatments),
identification of pavement
marking use on rigid
pavements (concrete),
evaluation of the measurement
of marking thickness, and
development of the Pavement
Marking Handbook.

Pavement markings are a primary means of communicating with

road users.
Pavement Marking
Conferences
During the first year of the
project, The Texas Transportation
Institute (TTI) hosted two
pavement marking conferences
to identify and discuss important
issues associated with pavement
markings in Texas. Key pavement
marking stakeholders in Texas,
including many Texas Department
of Transportation (TxDOT)
representatives, attended these
conferences. The first conference
was an invitation-only meeting
held in College Station with a
limited number of individuals
(35) that was intended to identify
what the major pavement marking
challenges are.
The second conference was
held in Austin and was open to

Project Summary Report 0-4150-S

all who wished to attend. The

many individuals who attended
(139) heard presentations from
marking experts with other state
transportation agencies, the
Federal Highway Administration,
and industry. Primary issues that
were discussed at the conferences
included: thermoplastic application
on sealcoat surfaces, striping
inspection, performance and
warranty pavement marking
specifications, and de-bonding of
thermoplastic from concrete.

Markings for Flexible

Pavements
Providing long-lasting
thermoplastic pavement markings
on surface treatment (sealcoat)
surfaces has become a challenge
for some TxDOT districts. The

researchers performed a number of

tasks to identify effective pavement
marking practices for sealcoat and
hot-mix asphalt concrete (HMAC)
roadways in Texas. The researchers
reviewed literature, identified current
TxDOT and alternative pavement
marking practices, and evaluated
various pavement marking treatments
in the field. The pavement marking
field evaluations were performed
on surface treatment and HMAC
roadways. In most of these field
evaluations, researchers measured
the retroreflectivity of newly applied
pavement markings and monitored the
performance of the markings over time.
In total, researchers made more than
9000 retroreflectivity measurements
at 18 different sites. Figure 1 presents
a comparison of white edgeline
retroreflectivity over time for various
marking thicknesses.

Markings for Concrete Pavements

Several TxDOT districts have
experienced difficulties getting the
standard TxDOT thermoplastic marking
material to provide adequate durability
on concrete pavements. In some
districts, thermoplastic markings have
an expected life span of a year or less
due to de-bonding between the marking
and pavement surface. To address these
items, the researchers synthesized
information from a number of sources,
including National Transportation
Product Evaluation Program (NTPEP)
data and other state transportation

agencies. This information was used

to develop recommendations for the
selection of marking materials on
concrete pavements.

Measuring Pavement
Marking Thickness
Pavement marking thickness is
one of the two primary inspection
measurements made with pavement
markings, the other being
retroreflectivity. Researchers compared
the relative accuracies of thermoplastic
thickness measurement with caliper
(common field practice) versus
needlepoint micrometer (recommended
field practice). The main difference
between the two measurement devices
is that the needlepoint micrometer is
capable of measurement between the
beads, while the caliper is capable of
measuring only to the top-of-bead.
The difference between the two
devices is significant because TxDOT
specifications require contractors to
achieve minimum thermoplastic binder
thickness, not including drop-on beads.

Pavement Marking Handbook

Developing the TxDOT Pavement
Marking Handbook was the major
implementation effort of the project.
Using the information gained from the
other four activities, TTI researchers
developed the handbook and refined the
content based on input from a panel of
TxDOT staff and selected contractors
that met on several occasions to

Figure 1. Average Retroreflectivity for White Edgeline.

Project Summary Report 0-4150-S

contribute to the development of

the handbook. The handbook was
developed to provide a single source
of information for anyone involved
with pavement markings in Texas.

What We Found

The researchers identified numerous

findings that can have an impact on
the quality of pavement markings and
the resulting effectiveness of those
markings.

Pavement Marking Conferences

The findings from these conferences
provided the researchers and TxDOT
staff with much useful information.
Research report 0-4150-3, A
Summary of Two Pavement Marking
Conferences for the Texas Department
of Transportation, summarizes the
activities and findings from the
conferences. Significant suggestions
resulting from the conferences include:
Use 100 mil thermoplastic for all
longlines on new sealcoat.
Experiment with concrete-specific
thermoplastic materials and twocomponent materials (e.g., epoxy)
on concrete pavements.
Establish consistent statewide
striping inspection practices.
Establish a single statewide
retroreflectivity performance
specification.

 Warranty specifications should

be limited to use only on selected
contracts at the local level.
Monitor marking retroreflectivity
on a number of different roadway
types to determine reasonable
retroreflectivity values and
performance periods.
Until more experience is obtained,
use 250 mcd/m2/lux white and
175 mcd/m2/lux yellow for
minimum retroreflectivity
performance of new markings.

Measuring Pavement
Marking Thickness

Figure 2. Locations for Measuring

Marking Thickness.
To obtain a more accurate
representation of long-term
pavement marking performance,
measure retroreflectivity at least one
month after striping.
To ensure adequate retroreflectivity
for both directions of traffic,
measure retroreflectivity for
centerlines of undivided two-way
roadways in both directions.

Markings for Flexible Pavements

The researchers identified few
shortcomings related to pavement
marking practices on HMAC pavement
surfaces. However, for surface
treatments, numerous opportunities for
improving pavement marking quality
were identified. Research report
0-4150-4, Effective Pavement Marking
Practices for Sealcoat and Hot-Mix
Asphalt Pavements, summarizes
the results of the evaluations. Based
on the research findings, numerous
recommendations were developed,
which include:
Apply thermoplastic at a minimum
thickness of 100 mil for all
longitudinal pavement markings
on new surface treatments when no
other durable marking exists.
Apply thermoplastic at a maximum
thickness of 90 mil for all
longitudinal pavement markings
on HMAC when no other durable
marking exists.
Water-based paint may be used on a
new surface treatments in either of
the following situations, but should
not be used as a permanent marking:
as temporary pavement marking
for up to 6 months, or
as surface primer prior to
thermoplastic application.
For better retroreflective
performance of pavement markings
on surface treatments, TxDOT
Grade 4 sealcoat aggregate (smaller
diameter) is recommended over
TxDOT Grade 3 sealcoat aggregate
(larger diameter).
For any pavement surface, use either
TxDOT Type III (larger diameter)
or TxDOT Type II (smaller
diameter) glass surface beads with
thermoplastic to achieve suitable
levels of dry-weather retroreflective
performance.

Markings for Concrete Pavements

The researchers gathered much
useful information regarding pavement
marking practices for concrete
pavements. Research report 4150-2,
Effective Pavement Marking Materials
and Applications for Portland Cement
Concrete Roadways, summarizes
the findings and recommendations
associated with this effort. Based on
findings, the researchers generated
a number of recommendations for
pavement markings on concrete
roadways in Texas, which include:

Project Summary Report 0-4150-S

Use epoxy materials for long-term

applications under the majority of
traffic conditions.
Use preformed tape for long-term
applications under very heavy
traffic.
Use TxDOT specification
thermoplastic only for short-term
applications with low to medium
traffic.
Always ensure that the striping
surface is clean and dry with no
loose material.
Special concrete thermoplastic
formulations (not currently included
in TxDOT specifications) are
suggested for all other thermoplastic
applications on concrete.

Forty-seven thermoplastic
pavement marking samples of
varying thickness and beads were
taken from striping jobsites statewide
and used in the analysis. Research
report 4150-1, Analysis of TxDOT
Thickness Measurement Procedures
for Thermoplastic Pavement Markings,
summarizes the findings from the
analysis. The results show that the
caliper measured an average of
20.5 mil and 16.7 mil thicker than
the needlepoint micrometer for large
(Type III) and small (Type II) bead
samples, respectively. Based on
the research findings, the following
recommendations were made:
Thickness measurements should be
made with a needlenose micrometer
to the top of the thermoplastic.
The use of a caliper to measure
thermoplastic thickness is
discouraged.
A minimum of three measurements
should be taken.
The most accurate measurement
method is to measure diagonally
across the sample (taking at least
three measurements per sample).
Figure 2 illustrates where the
measurements should be made
on the sample.

The Researchers
Recommend

The Pavement Marking Handbook

serves as the implementation product for
the various research activities associated
with this project. It contains guidance,
procedures, and recommendations
addressing many different aspects
of pavement marking selection and
installation. The objectives of the
Pavement Marking Handbook are to:
harmonize statewide practices,
implement research, and
provide a single go-to resource for
striping.
The handbook is divided into two
main chapters: pavement marking
material selection and pavement
marking installation and inspection.
Each chapter serves as a stand-alone
document. The handbook provides
TxDOT engineers and inspectors with
information that will help them better
select pavement marking materials and
inspect the installation of markings.

For More Details . . .

The research is documented in four research reports:
4150-1: Analysis of TxDOT Thickness Measurement Procedures for Thermoplastic Pavement Markings
4150-2: Effective Pavement Marking Materials and Applications for Portland Cement Concrete Roadways
0-4150-3: A Summary of Two Pavement Marking Conferences for the Texas Department of Transportation
0-4150-4: Effective Pavement Marking Practices for Sealcoat and Hot-Mix Asphalt Pavements
Research Supervisor: H. Gene Hawkins, Texas Transportation Institute, [email protected], (979) 845-6004
Researchers: Timothy J. Gates, and Elisabeth R. Rose, Texas Transportation Institute
TxDOT Project Director: Greg Brinkmeyer, TxDOTTraffic Operations Division, [email protected],
(512) 416-3120
To obtain copies of reports, contact Dolores Hott, Texas Transportation Institute, TTI Communications,
(979) 845-4853, or e-mail [email protected]. See our online catalog at http://tti.tamu.edu.
The Pavement Marking Handbook (4150-P1) is the implementation product for this research. It is available from the
TxDOT Traffic Operations Division. Contact Jeanne Black at (512) 416-3134 to order a copy of the handbook.

TxDOT Implementation Status

January 2004
The objective of this research project was to evaluate key aspects of pavement marking effectiveness. One
product was required for this project: a pavement marking handbook. The Pavement Marking Handbook can
be implemented immediately as it was developed as the single source of information for anyone involved with
pavement markings in Texas.
For more information, contact Mr. Wade Odell, P.E., RTI Research Engineer, at (512) 302-2363 or email
[email protected].

YOUR INVOLVEMENT IS WELCOME!

Disclaimer
This research was performed in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are
responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or
policies of TxDOT or the FHWA. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation, nor is it intended for
construction, bidding, or permit purposes. Trade names were used solely for information and are not for product endorsement.

Project Summary Report 0-4150-S

TTI.PSR0401.0304.580