Orange Pavement Markings?

[DaBigE]

Orange lane markings to be used in Zoo Interchange

Improved visibility is goal of orange lane marking test project

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will apply orange reflective epoxy paint within a I-94 westbound work zone just west of the Zoo Interchange (Zoo IC) Tuesday night and Wednesday night, weather permitting. The traditional white and yellow lane and edge markings will be replaced with an approved orange paint which is being tested in the Zoo IC with the goal to provide more clearly defined lanes in the construction zone. Last year motorists at times experienced difficult conditions in winter work zones as salt residue on the roadway surface left the traditional white lane markings very challenging to pick out.

Orange reflective epoxy paint has been used in Canada, New Zealand and in Europe but not previously in the U.S. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has granted the Zoo IC team the permission to use the orange paint in test areas in at least three separate locations along I-94 both east and west of the actual Zoo IC. WisDOT will track the performance of the paint under diverse weather and time of day conditions and will also be monitoring the reaction of motorists to the orange lane markings. A survey will follow after the lane markings have been in place to gather further reaction and opinions from motorists using this portion of the freeway system.

source: WisDOT News Release

[Brandon]

Ontario uses them for construction zones.

[cl94]

Ontario uses them for construction zones.

Yes. I think it's pretty useful. Highlights that the markings are temporary. IMO, the US as a whole should adopt orange for construction zones. Make sure people know they're in an active work zone by changing the lane markings.

[CtrlAltDel]

I don't like that both the yellow and white lines change to orange. I drove through a zone like that in Canada, and the absence of that yellow line on my left assuring me I was going in the right direction was really disconcerting, far more than I would have thought beforehand.

That said, I like the idea of specific temporary markings, but something should be done to distinguish the white from the yellow. What, though, I have to admit I don't know.

[cl94]

I don't like that both the yellow and white lines change to orange. I drove through a zone like that in Canada, and the absence of that yellow line on my left assuring me I was going in the right direction was really disconcerting, far more than I would have thought beforehand.

That said, I like the idea of specific temporary markings, but something should be done to distinguish the white from the yellow. What, though, I have to admit I don't know.

Remember that the yellow-white system is only common in the western hemisphere (minus Chile). Rest of the world uses white for almost everything, with Norway being a notable exception. They seem to be fine.

[AsphaltPlanet]

For a while in Ontario, the MTO seemed to have some reluctance in using orange on roads with opposing traffic flow, but orange line paint has become increasingly common in those situations as well.

[riiga]

Remember that the yellow-white system is only common in the western hemisphere (minus Chile). Rest of the world uses white for almost everything, with Norway being a notable exception. They seem to be fine.

Indeed, here white is used for all markings, except construction/temporary markings which are yellow. I've never once felt uncertain if I'm going in the right direction.

[CtrlAltDel]

Remember that the yellow-white system is only common in the western hemisphere (minus Chile). Rest of the world uses white for almost everything, with Norway being a notable exception. They seem to be fine.

True. But, here, it's the standard, and I, for one, rely on it quite a bit. And overall, I think the loss of information that comes from only uses orange lines is something to be avoided.

[1995hoo]

We very briefly discussed this as to Ontario a few years ago. I liked the idea then and still do.

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=7496.msg168691#msg168691

[CtrlAltDel]

We very briefly discussed this as to Ontario a few years ago. I liked the idea then and still do.

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=7496.msg168691#msg168691

Don't get me wrong. I like the idea too. I just think something needs to be done to distinguish the yellow from white. Having tossed the idea over in my head over the past little bit, I think doubling the left-side line would be a good way to keep things distinct, while keeping the temporary lines orange.

[renegade]

We very briefly discussed this as to Ontario a few years ago. I liked the idea then and still do.

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=7496.msg168691#msg168691

Don't get me wrong. I like the idea too. I just think something needs to be done to distinguish the yellow from white. Having tossed the idea over in my head over the past little bit, I think doubling the left-side line would be a good way to keep things distinct, while keeping the temporary lines orange.

Okay.  How about double orange on the left and single on the right?  Seems to me that would work.

[jeffandnicole]

If it's a temporary zone, I don't see what the big deal would be either about using all orange lines.  In most cases, it's very apparent which lane is for which direction of travel.  Personally, I think it's sometimes confusing when multiple lanes are marked by solid white lines - is the lane to the right a shoulder lane not to be driven in or a temporary lane for travel?

[1995hoo]

What I hate is when they rip up the old lane markings, put down either new or temporary ones, and fail to clean up the ruts in the pavement left by the old markings. At night, and especially at night in the rain, it can be quite difficult to distinguish the ruts from the actual markings. I have no idea whether the orange markings help with that because I haven't seen them in person.

[jeffandnicole]

What I hate is when they rip up the old lane markings, put down either new or temporary ones, and fail to clean up the ruts in the pavement left by the old markings. At night, and especially at night in the rain, it can be quite difficult to distinguish the ruts from the actual markings. I have no idea whether the orange markings help with that because I haven't seen them in person.

That 295/42/76 project near me?  They've actually repaved I-76 twice since that project began (in less than a year's time): The first time because they eliminated the express/local lane structure and new lines wouldn't match up with the old lines, and then again after they were done with lane shifts and divisions.  It was probably a good million dollars eaten up each time to repave a mile or so of roadway in each direction, but it definitely eliminates the old markings & ruts!

[codyg1985]

If on a divided road, I think this is a great idea. For two lane roads, I think it could get confusing.

[freebrickproductions]

How about using yellow for the center markings but using orange for the white markings? that'd help distinguish which one is right and which one is left.

[AsphaltPlanet]

Ontario has used orange line paint on construction projects for about a decade now, give or take.  If the practice was confusing people and either causing additional collisions within their vicinity or reducing the throughput through a construction zone, it would stand to reason that the MTO would have discontinued, or at the very least, altered how it uses orange striping through a construction zone.

[Dr Frankenstein]

Québec has been experimenting with it for a while.

IMG_6363 par Dr Frankenstein, sur Flickr

I also don't like that both yellow and white turn to orange; I'd rather have the yellow lines stay as-is.

[AsphaltPlanet]

This is A-20 on the South Shore by the A-25 interchange right?  This is the only location I think I've ever seen MTQ use orange on its network.

[SSOWorld]

In the following album - of sections of the Zoo Interchange in Milwaukee, WisDOT had contractors use (first) yellow, then orange lines. 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ssoworld/sets/72157654780524576/

Both are hideous - They're attempting to make roads more visible during the winter months - but it just looks gawd-awful fugly

WisDOT's explanation

[SignGeek101]

Ontario has been doing this for years. I like it actually.

Some pictures of the 417 construction related to the LRT construction in eastern Ottawa:


Easterly view from the Belfast Road overpass


Easterly view along the 417 towards the new pedestrian overpass from the Vanier Parkway overpass


Westerly view towards the Rideau River bridge from the Vanier Parkway overpass

[jakeroot]

Fuck winter visibility -- they are far better at helping drivers realize they're in construction zones than anything else.

[briantroutman]

Last year motorists at times experienced difficult conditions in winter work zones as salt residue on the roadway surface left the traditional white lane markings very challenging to visually pick out.

How is that any different in a construction zone than any other area in winter?

[SignGeek101]

Last year motorists at times experienced difficult conditions in winter work zones as salt residue on the roadway surface left the traditional white lane markings very challenging to visually pick out.

How is that any different in a construction zone than any other area in winter?

I'm thinking perhaps it has to do with the lanes being moved over temporarily during construction sometimes. Refer to the images I posted above.

[DaBigE]

Previous discussion: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=14127.msg2024483#msg2024483

I just drove through that experiment Saturday (looks like Scott and I may have just missed each other driving the 94 corridor).   Its second (third?) paint iteration looks as ugly as when I first saw it this past winter. They are having a horrible time keeping the orange colorfast, as it's mostly looking yellow now. However, one section (maybe just re-done?) was such a deep orange, it almost looked red.

And as Scott's second link points out, it's to make the construction zone stand out more overall, not just for the winter months. (As if all the orange barrels and signs aren't enough of a clue.)

There was a presentation on this experiment at our ITE workshop this past spring, and the state marking engineer said that the suppliers are still trying to perfect the orange color. The second round of the public survey was more positive than the first time they surveyed folks just after the orange was first put down back in December.