Can we use black concrete on freeways?

[tolbs17]

I was thinking black concrete would be more visible on highways. Do you think they will be more visible and we can try to give them a shot?

[silverback1065]

I was thinking black concrete would be more visible on highways. Do you think they will be more visible and we can try to give them a shot?

I don't even know how that would even work. Asphalt is black because the binder is made from oil. You'd have to dye concrete to make it black

[tolbs17]

I was thinking black concrete would be more visible on highways. Do you think they will be more visible and we can try to give them a shot?

I don't even know how that would even work. Asphalt is black because the binder is made from oil. You'd have to dye concrete to make it black

https://coolhunting.com/design/understanding-black-concrete/#:~:text=While%20rare%2C%20black%20concrete%20can,carbon%20black%20can%20be%20used.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZD8Ay-mzkQ

[kphoger]

I was thinking black concrete would be more visible on highways. Do you think they will be more visible and we can try to give them a shot?

Asphalt is black because the binder is made from oil.

Asphalt is also a type of concrete.

So yes, we can use black concrete on freeways.  We do it all the time.

[Mapmikey]

I was thinking black concrete would be more visible on highways. Do you think they will be more visible and we can try to give them a shot?

More visible in what way?  What is difficult to see on traditional concrete?

[kphoger]

It's a solution without a problem.

Hard-to-see lane lines have already been solved by either outlining in black or alternating with black.

[tolbs17]

I was thinking black concrete would be more visible on highways. Do you think they will be more visible and we can try to give them a shot?

More visible in what way?  What is difficult to see on traditional concrete?

It's clearer to see the white lines.

[jmacswimmer]

I was thinking black concrete would be more visible on highways. Do you think they will be more visible and we can try to give them a shot?

More visible in what way?  What is difficult to see on traditional concrete?

It's clearer to see the white lines.

It's a solution without a problem.

Hard-to-see lane lines have already been solved by either outlining in black or alternating with black.

(GSV links added by me)

[renegade]

I was thinking black concrete would be more visible on highways. Do you think they will be more visible and we can try to give them a shot?

More visible in what way?  What is difficult to see on traditional concrete?

It's clearer to see the white lines.

That makes sense, but that's why most newer concrete highways also have black lines in between the white ones.

[kphoger]

Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm not sure I've ever seen the center yellow stripe outlined in black on a two-way PCC highway.

[jmacswimmer]

Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm not sure I've ever seen the center yellow stripe outlined in black on a two-way PCC highway.

Definitely rare, but here's a one-off example I came across several months ago: The recently-reconstructed US 17 bridge over the Savannah River backchannel.

[bwana39]

I was thinking black concrete would be more visible on highways. Do you think they will be more visible and we can try to give them a shot?

I remember reading something several decades that said the concrete roads (plain concrete) in the north had better visibility than the asphalt roads in Texas and surrounding areas.

I guess the contrast for brand new marking would be better, but that is about the sole reason black might be better than white. 

The reason for the black driveway would be to reduce stains, or at least their visibility.

[tolbs17]

Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm not sure I've ever seen the center yellow stripe outlined in black on a two-way PCC highway.

Definitely rare, but here's a one-off example I came across several months ago: The recently-reconstructed US 17 bridge over the Savannah River backchannel.

Never seen those here in North Carolina, as the new bridges are just paved like this. They probably weren't done yet but it just makes it harder to see.

[bwana39]

Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm not sure I've ever seen the center yellow stripe outlined in black on a two-way PCC highway.

Definitely rare, but here's a one-off example I came across several months ago: The recently-reconstructed US 17 bridge over the Savannah River backchannel.

Never seen those here in North Carolina, as the new bridges are just paved like this. They probably weren't done yet but it just makes it harder to see.

In Texas, sometimes you obfuscate the old markings with black, then repaint new stripes over the black.


You know, cat eyes (directional reflectors) are even better regardless of the color of the roadway. I realize they are not really a great choice where snow plows run, but down here, it is a far better answer.

[tolbs17]

Although I can't tell if that is better or the black line stripped in front of the white line but the solid yellow and white lines are not paved with the black ones. And to be honest, the Monroe Expressway looks nicer compared to the Triangle expressway in terms of looking at the bridges, and what not.

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.9851863,-80.4086462,3a,75y,295.57h,83.17t,1.07r/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sLsR0BDgQxUm7xI4ZqXv4gQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[tolbs17]

And here's an example of black concrete...  It's on a bridge though

[SectorZ]

And here's an example of black concrete...  It's on a bridge though

Am I missing the example?

[Big John]

^^ Without seeing the picture, it could be a thin overlay of different material.

[jamess]

I know many urban areas are looking at the opposite - black absorbs heat too much, while white helps reflect it away. Sp if youre in Phoenix, and its already 120, it can feel much hotter on the road due to that effect

[tolbs17]

I know many urban areas are looking at the opposite - black absorbs heat too much, while white helps reflect it away. Sp if youre in Phoenix, and its already 120, it can feel much hotter on the road due to that effect

Black asphalt too?

[kphoger]

Black asphalt too?

Go to Arizona in the summer sometime, and stand barefoot on a black asphalt parking lot.  See how long you last.

[tolbs17]

Black asphalt too?

Go to Arizona in the summer sometime, and stand barefoot on a black asphalt parking lot.  See how long you last.

Damn... so black concrete will be worse!

[kphoger]

News flash:  black things get hot in the sunshine.

[tolbs17]

News flash:  black things get hot in the sunshine.

So that's why you guys like white concrete better.

[kphoger]

News flash:  black things get hot in the sunshine.

So that's why you guys like white concrete better.

I've never driven on black concrete, so I can't say which I like better from that perspective.  We were just saying that specifically choosing something that makes pavement hotter than usual probably won't fly in a lot of places.