Solution for a two-year renewal cycle of structured road markings Rozwiązanie zapewniające dwuletni cykl odnowy strukturalnego oznakowania poziomego

Burghardt, Tomasz E.; Pashkevich, Anton; Bartusiak, Jacek · 2021 · Crossref

DOI: 10.7409/rabdim.021.001

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

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Summary

This study addresses the durability and sustainability of renewing thick-layer structured road markings that have lost retroreflectivity but retain their physical structure. Road markings are critical for safety, particularly at night, yet frequent renewals using standard thin-layer materials impose significant financial burdens and environmental costs due to resource consumption and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. The research investigates whether using premium materials—specifically high-performance waterborne paint and high-quality glass beads—can extend the service life of renewed markings, thereby reducing the frequency of maintenance cycles. The authors conducted a field experiment on a 23.8-km single-carriageway road in Poland with moderate to heavy traffic loads. Four thin-layer marking systems were tested as renewals for existing cold plastic markings. The systems varied by paint type (solventborne vs. high-performance waterborne) and glass bead composition (standard beads with RI 1.5 vs. premium beads with RI 1.6–1.7, used in 30% or 80% mixtures). Retroreflectivity ($R_L$) was measured periodically using a handheld retroreflectometer, with a minimum acceptable threshold of 200 mcd/m²/lx. The study also analyzed VOC content, ozone formation potential, and material costs based on market data. Results demonstrated that the standard system (solventborne paint with standard beads) failed after a single winter, dropping below the required $R_L$ threshold. In contrast, systems incorporating premium glass beads maintained compliance. Specifically, waterborne paint mixed with 80% premium beads retained an $R_L$ of 309 mcd/m²/lx after winter, suggesting a service life of at least two years, potentially three. This performance significantly exceeded Polish technical regulations, which typically assume only a one-year lifespan for waterborne markings. The premium system also exhibited superior durability compared to mixed-bead systems using solventborne paint. The significance of these findings lies in the substantial environmental and economic benefits of adopting premium materials. Extending the renewal cycle from one to two years results in a 50% reduction in material consumption. Furthermore, the use of high-performance waterborne paint with premium beads reduces VOC emissions by 50–97% and lowers long-term financial expenses by 5–26% compared to standard systems. The study concludes that upgrading material quality is a critical strategy for improving road safety infrastructure sustainability, reducing environmental impact, and optimizing maintenance budgets.

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• signage environment