Is it time for a new highway innovation. while initially it could be expensive should we consider LED lane markings to replace retro-reflective markers on the interstate system These markings could better delineate the lanes and even last longer that the Botts Dots. Ray-O-Vac reflectors and even the metal snowplow reflectors since they would be embedded in the roadway. These could even be useful for curves in the roadway...
I feel like I've seen flashing LED lane markings on US 20 in Lakewood OH, where it turns west from Clifton onto Sloane. Not sure if they're still there and functioning though; I don't go that way too often.
There are LED lane markings in the Massey Tunnel on BC 99.
The only place I've seen LEDs on the ground is at Love Field in Dallas; they aren't marking off lanes, it's at a crosswalk between the terminal and a parking garage. The lights are blinking yellow there. *Very* noticeable. TxDOT might try lane or side-of-road LEDs at places where it's dark or a bad curve or something, but I haven't heard them say anything about a large-scale rollout of them anywhere here yet.
I just don't see them lasting throughout the winter. Even embedded reflectors can and do get scraped up during the winter. Bott's Dots never would make it through a season, and I can't see embedded LEDs doing much better.
I had read somewhere about the idea of redoing roadways to be entirely coated in LEDs so you could easily change lane patterns and such. Obviously not feasible, but still an interesting overarching idea.
We had this thread a long time ago, because I brought up a test scenario on US 46 in Totowa.
They also use them in one of the Tunnels just before I-5 on CA-110.
Quote from: Brandon on October 13, 2013, 05:32:10 PM
I just don't see them lasting throughout the winter. Even embedded reflectors can and do get scraped up during the winter. Bott's Dots never would make it through a season, and I can't see embedded LEDs doing much better.
Embeded LEDs would be flush with the roadway surface. Therefore not susceptible to plow blades.
Neat idea...LED Button Copy!
Quote from: Indyroads on October 14, 2013, 12:20:41 AM
Quote from: Brandon on October 13, 2013, 05:32:10 PM
I just don't see them lasting throughout the winter. Even embedded reflectors can and do get scraped up during the winter. Bott's Dots never would make it through a season, and I can't see embedded LEDs doing much better.
Embeded LEDs would be flush with the roadway surface. Therefore not susceptible to plow blades.
Until frost-heave sets in. Then they'll pop like popcorn.
The maintenance and installation cost would probably kill it. I've never seen any here in Louisiana, but there was a "light bar" of sorts at the I-10/110 split (Baton Rouge). It was on the railing of the tight curve where I-10 turns west towards the river.It's either failed or removed now I'm pretty sure.
I've thought about them for a while. My thought was to actually create polycarb blocks with LEDs inside that would illuminate the blocks to indicate passing zones, replace fog lines (at least in part), or make them small and raised a little to replace Bott's Dots. I have also thought that a similar system would be great for curbs to illuminate parking restrictions or be used to simply illuminate the roadway from a lower angle, instead of placing overhead lighting.