Learning About Road Surface Markings

We drive over them, alongside them, behind them, and we obey them. Surface stripes and pavement markings serve a very important purpose in traffic and road systems, and play a major role in the organization, functionality, and safety of drivers and pedestrians. But many drivers are unsure about the different colors, applications, and meanings behind the most common pavement stripes and markings. It is important to know this information so you can be safer on the road. To improve your driving acumen and security, continue reading to learn about pavement stripes and marks.

Asphalt Concrete Paving 317-549-1833

Asphalt Concrete Paving 317-549-1833

Road Stripes and Markings

Road surface markings and striping is any material or device used to assist or convey official information to motorists and pedestrians. They are either mechanical, non-mechanical, or temporary, and used in several applications, including parking lots, roads, highways, toll booths, school zones, pedestrian crossings, and more. And today, there are new innovative technologies available for road marking systems, such as retro-reflectivity, that lasts longer and costs less to apply. So we can count on reliable traffic and pedestrian surface markings for years to come. Below is a review of some common road markers, and the purpose they serve.

Mechanical Markers

Botts’ Dots – A type of mechanical non-reflective marker that is raised off the ground in the form of small mounds, or “dots.” They are used to indicate the edges of traffic lanes and are commonly used in combination with raised reflective markers. Botts’ dots are also used to alert motorists of highway toll booths, school lanes, and speed limit reductions. Since they are easily damaged by snow plows, they are usually used in areas with warmer climates.

Rumble Strips – If you have ever accidentally veered off the road, then you have probably experienced driving over rumble strips. They are repetitive troughs carved into the pavement (generally 1 cm deep and 10 cm wide) on the edges of roads to alert or awake drivers that are falling asleep or not paying attention. When you drive on rumble strips, your vehicle shakes and vibrates as it moves over the deep ridges.

Raised Reflective Markers – Also called road studs, these markers are reflective, making them more visible at night and in poor weather. They are raised off the ground, usually in the form of dots or small squares, and used as travel lane dividers, median markers, exit slip-road markers.

Non-Mechanical Markers

Paint – The most common form of non-mechanical road markers is paint, sometimes containing retroreflective glass beads. The primary colors of road paint depend largely on locality, but generally include white, yellow, red, blue, and orange. Paint markers are used for a wide variety of purposes in terms of road systems and pavement, including driving lanes, parking lots, handicap parking, no-parking zones, time-restricted parking, loading zones, and much more.

Yellow Lines – Yellow lines are used to mark the center of two-way streets that have two-way traffic lanes. If the center yellow lines are dashes instead of solid lines, you can pass on a two-way street with two-way traffic. However, if they are solid, you cannot. So this means you cannot drive to the left of these lines.

White Lines – White lines are applied in the center and on the shoulder of a two-lane road to advise traffic traveling in your direction. If the lines are solid, you cannot legally pass on the road. If they are broken up into dashes, you can legally pass other vehicles if the way is clear.

ACI Asphalt and Concrete Inc.

Parking Lot Paving Indianapolis Indiana

Indianapolis Paving 317-549-1833

Call ACI Asphalt and Concrete Inc. at 317-549-1833 for professional pavement installation and repair in Indianapolis, Indiana. Owner, Lindsey Lewis, and his team of licensed and insured pavers, are fully-equipped to manage any size pavement application or installation project for commercial, industrial, and municipal properties. We provide road striping services, as well as, pavement repair, pavement installation, pothole patching, and more. Call 317-549-1833 to speak with a knowledgeable Indianapolis paving contractor, today.

Thicker is Not Better When it Comes to Asphalt Sealer

Without a sealcoat, your pavement will quickly become dry and brittle, which will eventually result in cracks, crumbling pavement, discoloration, and many other damages. Sealcoating asphalt pavement costs pennies per square-foot, yet repairing asphalt pavement costs dollar per square-foot. So you can see that preventative maintenance is more cost-effective. Continue reading to learn how to properly assess your sealcoating needs, and why thicker sealcoat does not necessarily mean it is better.

Commercial Sealcoating 317-549-1833
Commercial Sealcoating 317-549-1833

Sealcoating Benefits

A paved driveway or parking lot is an important investment. And in order to maintain and protect your investment, routine asphalt care is required. One part of routine asphalt maintenance is sealcoating. Sealcoating delivers an attractive, crisp look, and is a critical component to preserving the function and stability of asphalt pavements. Not only does regular sealcoating protect against water penetration, it also protects against sun damage and chemical erosion.

More Reasons to Seal Coat:

• Prevents Water Penetration
• Protects Against Harmful UV-Rays
• Resistant to Oil and Chemical Spills
• Protects Against Premature Cracking and Erosion
• Enhances Appearance
• Increase Longevity and Stability

Although sealcoating is the right choice for your asphalt pavement, choosing to sealcoat is only half the process. For the best results, you must also ensure that the sealcoating work is carried out correctly. Improper sealcoating is one of the most common issues behind failing asphalt pavement. And one of the most common mistakes made during the sealcoating process is using too much product.

When it comes to sealcoat, thicker is never better. In fact, it is a bad idea. You can tell when pavement has excessive layers of sealcoat if it looks like it has no texture at all, and asphalt should always have texture. If it’s too smooth and has no visible dynamic, then the pavement is over-sealed. Not only does too much sealcoat take too long to cure, it doesn’t cure properly, resulting in unevenness and irregularity. It can also lead to surface cracks and track marks.

Commercial Sealcoating Services in Indianapolis

Call ACI Asphalt and Concrete at 317-549-1833 for professional asphalt sealcoating in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding locations. Our licensed road construction contractors provide a wide range of asphalt and concrete work for commercial and industrial properties, including inspections, installation, replacement, repair, and more. We also offer free estimates and consultations, flexible scheduling, references upon request, and more. Best of all, our work is backed by our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, so you can rest assure that your investment is sound. Request a free quote, today.