A Methodology for Estimating and Comparing the Lifecycles of High-Build and Conventional Waterborne Pavement Markings on Primary and Secondary Roads in South Carolina

Abstract

Highway pavement markings constitute a vital component in roadway transportation systems and provide crucial visual cues for drivers to follow the road. In 2008, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) initiated a study to evaluate pavement markings on noninterstate primary and secondary roads in South Carolina. This article discusses development of a method for estimating and comparing the lifecycles of high-build waterborne and conventional waterborne pavement markings based on retroreflectivity levels. The method was developed using nearly 3 years of field data from 66 sites throughout South Carolina. The article provides an overview of data collection and analysis methods employed in model development. The analysis indicates that high-build markings are predicted to considerably outlast waterborne markings and are also more cost-effective, based on cost per linear foot per year, for two-way Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) volume levels up to 2,000 vehicles per day.