Highway Lines Don't Last

When the Government of Canada put an end to the use of oil based paint for marking highway lines in 2010 the durability that we had come to expect ended. Since that time the Ministry of Transportation and Transit has been searching for and testing suitable replacements.

image of truck painting highway lines

Over 30,000 Kilometres of Highway Lines in BC

When you paint this length of highway lines each year, you want the chosen paint to be both durable and affordable. B.C. now uses a low volatile organic compound alkyd and a water-based formula.

The quantity of lines that are re-painted annually is determined by contract. Some of the lines must be repainted each year while other lines are repainted based on priority, taking into consideration things such as wear, location and traffic volumes.

In 2017 line painting cost our province over $13 million.

Why Painted Highway Lines Don't Last

According to the Ministry:

Winter weather is tough on pavement markings. The equipment we use to clear roads of ice and snow, and traction devices like studded tires and tire chains, wear away at line paint. Throw in winter abrasive and salt road treatments, and you’ve got grit that scours pavements markings, when vehicles roll over it.

Water Based Paint

Water-based acrylic paint offers several advantages, such as quick drying time and high reflectivity. It is known for its excellent adhesion to asphalt and concrete, providing long-lasting results while minimizing environmental impact.

Resins

Costing up to 8 times more than water based paints, highway lines marked with thermoplastic and two part resins do last longer. This is only done on extreme weather routes.

Automated Driver Assistance Systems

Newer vehicles equipped with Automated Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) rely on lane markings to operate properly. Long lasting high contrast lines will become even more important as ADAS becomes widespread.

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