Date:
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Contact:
Dave Chesson, WSDOT Communications, 360-757-5970
WHIDBEY ISLAND – WSDOT crews will restripe SR 525 and SR 20 starting Monday, July 28 and lasting through Thursday afternoon, July 31. Crews will work from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Because the hills and curves on Whidbey Island can reduce sight distance, drivers are advised to use extra caution and watch for slow-moving vehicles that may be just around the corner or over the next hill.
WSDOT reminds drivers to give striping crews plenty of room and to watch for the “wet paint” signs. Drivers who cross wet paint when warning signs are present won’t be eligible for reimbursement through the WSDOT claims process. If drivers do get paint on their vehicles, they should try and wash the paint off as quickly as possible. For more information visit the 2008 striping season Web page at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Northwest/striping.
Besides possible damage to your vehicle, driving too close to striping trucks could damage the stripes. Although WSDOT uses fast drying, water-based paint, driving over fresh stripes or changing lanes when following a striping crew removes the reflectivity of the stripe and splatters paint onto the vehicles.
“Crews have a strict schedule to keep in order to stripe all of our highways and roads,” said Jerry Althauser, WSDOT superintendent for traffic maintenance and operations. “In most cases, we will not be able to repaint stripes smeared by vehicles until spring 2009.”
Crews began striping in April and will spend about six months restriping more than 4,500 miles on dozens of state highways around the Puget Sound area. The fresh coat of reflective paint that crews apply during spring, summer and fall months makes it easier for drivers to see the road when winter rains return.
“Next to snow and ice removal, striping is our top safety priority,” Althauser said. “Each gallon of paint contains thousands of tiny glass reflector beads to help increase visibility in dark rainy conditions.”
How to spot a WSDOT striping crew
Drivers can protect their car from damage and help WSDOT crews by recognizing striping crews and avoiding lane changes on freshly painted lines or driving on the lines when turning at intersections and driveways.
Two clearly marked trucks comprise each striping crew. The first truck places the wet paint and glass beads on the highway. The second truck follows at an appropriate distance to encourage drivers to stay off of the wet paint. The two trucks travel from 500 to 1,000 feet apart, depending upon the time it takes for the paint to dry. The trucks travel closer together when air and ground temperatures are higher because the paint dries faster in these conditions.
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