LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The goal of the Arkansas Department of Transportation’s latest project is to improve safety on some roadways statewide, which means travelers can expect to see a few changes during their commute.
Over the next few months, Arkansas drivers will see ARDOT road crews on interstates and highways altering lane markings through their contrast pavement marking initiative to increase safety for drivers.
David Weston said ARDOT is placing these contrast pavement markings on every divided concrete roadway across the state.
"We have 380 centerline concrete miles of highways in our system,” ARDOT Assistant Division Head of Maintenance David Weston said.
On those 380 miles of centerline concrete across the state, drivers will soon see a 10-foot black paint stripe along the 10-foot white skip lines.
Weston said these contrast markings are a safety enhancement.
“It’s a low-cost solution to help safety as far as reducing accidents because the motorist and autonomous vehicles can help sense the lane lines better,” Weston said.
The primary purpose of this contrast pavement marking initiative is to strengthen visibility during inclement weather and instances of sunlight causing glares.
"It’s going on concrete surfaces instead of black asphalt because sometimes the white skip lines have a tendency to lack visibility due to sunlight glare during the day,” Weston said. “This will help enhance those lane markings."
According to Weston, the first installation will cost around $150,000 and should last three to four years before the Department of Transportation must reapply the contrast markings.
Weston advised Arkansas drivers to prepare for a form of lane closures while crews place the markings over the coming weeks.
"Typically, we use a rolling lane closure with safety measures that follow the paint vehicles and our employees," Weston explained.
While this initiative is in its early stages, Weston asked drivers to be mindful as road crews complete the project.
“Help protect our workers and our equipment,” Weston said. “It's a safety enhancement for Arkansans to help them utilize our roadway."
Weston said crews started placing the contrast markings in Pine Bluff along Interstate 530 and will make their way to the Little Rock area in the coming weeks, depending on weather conditions.