SASKATOON – It’s a challenge facing drivers every spring – using their best guess to determine the lane markings on city streets.
The City of Saskatoon is hoping to take the guesswork out of the equation by using durable markers on major roads and freeways.
“Winter operations, including the use of gravel and snow clearing, as well as higher traffic volumes, wear off road paint faster,” said Angela Gardiner, the city’s director of transportation.
The annual cost to mark roads is $800,000. In 2014, another half-a-million dollars will be added to the budget for the durable road markings.
“While the upfront cost is higher, these markings last longer and are visible year round,” said Gardiner.
“Primarily, what we’re moving toward is the use of inlaid thermal plastic markings. There are actually grooves in the road where the markings go, then the material is placed in those grooves, so we don’t have the risk from a snow clearing perspective that they’re pulled off by the graders.”
Gardiner added that there will also be less wear-and-tear from vehicles travelling over the durable markings.
For 2014, the durable markings will be installed on Circle Drive near Attridge Drive and Warman Road as well as along 51st Street.
Road marking will begin once street sweeping is underway and the overnight temperature is consistently at 5 degrees or warming – usually in late April or early May.
High traffic areas will generally be marked at night to minimize traffic disruption.
The new markings can last for upwards of 10 to 15 years.
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