Along with many other states, NCDOT is moving toward disallowing metal casting snowplowable pavement markers on future construction projects. Three Divisions have already discontinued the use of metal castings. Metal casting markers have been used at NCDOT however we have had several instances over the years of these coming loose, damaging vehicles and causing injuries. As a result, the Department's Signing and Delineation Unit has been researching possible alternatives to the metal casting. The goal will be to test and evaluate the alternatives identified at specific testing locations.
The pavement marking line alternatives that will be tested are inlaid thermoplastic marking lines, Inlaid wet reflective cold applied plastic tape, surface mounted cold applied marking tape and inlaid paint marking lines. The pavement marker alternatives that will be tested are inlaid raised pavement markers and inlaid cradle markers. The alternatives that are inlaid require a specialized groove in the pavement for the marking or marker to remain effective while also protecting it from traffic and potential snowplow blades. In addition, we will evaluate rumble skips with thermoplastic where priorly it was paint.
