MDOT raises the bar on work zone visibility

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                      MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2017

CONTACT: John Richard, MDOT Office of Communications, 616-262-1565

                       richardj2@michigan.gov

MDOT raises the bar on

work zone visibility

Fast facts:

- MDOT and contractor PK Contracting tested and created wet reflective paints in 2015.

- The new paints proved effective and MDOT set new guidelines and standards for work zones based on successful test results.

- The Mandated use of temporary wet reflective tape and paint in work zones is the first of its kind in the U.S.

September 25, 2017 -- Night timevisibility in work zones can be challenging, particularly in the rain. In 2015, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) teamed up with local contractor PK Contracting to test and create wet reflective paints for performance in dark, wet work zones. The developed products were so effective that MDOT set new guidelines and standards for work zones throughout the state. The mandated use of temporary wet reflective tape and paint in work zones is the first of its kind in the United States and went into full effect this year.

               "We're always trying to innovate and we are motivated by safety," said MDOT Work Zone Delivery Engineer Chris Brookes. "Thirty-five percent of work zone crashes happen on rainy nights and we believe this new standard will make a big difference."

               "The challenge was creating a temporary paint for a two-month work zone stage that was strong enough to hold onto the wet reflective optics," said MDOT Work Zone Tech Specialist Chuck Bergmann. "It's a new standard, and we are excited to see how this improves our statistics."

               The first-in-the-country endeavor is featured in Roads & Bridges Magazine, a 108-year-old trade publication and leading magazine covering the transportation construction and maintenance marketplace. To read the full article, go to: http://bit.ly/2hiPWV4.

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