PennDOT District 11 is advising motorists that line painting operations on various roadways in Beaver County will occur Monday through Friday, April 15-19, weather permitting. Work to repaint lines will occur from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day in the following locations:
- Route 68 in Midland Borough
- Route 151 in Hopewell Township
- Route 4034 (Wolf Run Road) in Industry Borough
- Route 4041 (Paradise Road) in Industry Borough
- Route 4043 (Kelly Road) in Industry Borough
- Route 4045 (Murphy Hill Road) in Midland and Industry Boroughs
PennDOT advises motorists to exercise caution and patience, and suggests allowing at least 250 feet (13 car lengths) behind line painting equipment to avoid damage. Motorists should avoid passing the paint vehicles unless directed by a paint crew member or flag person to do so. Passing too quickly can cause damage to fresh paint lines and may result in paint on the motorist’s vehicle. Line painting vehicles normally pull over every two and one-half miles or when safety permits. Recent technological advancements on the mix of formulas have produced fast dry paints that are dry to the touch within 2 to 3 minutes. It is crucial to stay off these lines during the curing period.
Motorists who accidentally get paint on their vehicles should immediately wash the paint off with a high-pressure water stream and detergent. Dried paint can be removed with de-natured alcohol and a soft cloth. Generally, PennDOT is not responsible for paint on vehicles.
Roadway line painting is an important part of PennDOT’s highway safety initiatives. Paint lines provide direction, delineation, and guidance to motorists.
Glass beads applied on top of wet paint during the painting process provide retro reflectivity. These small, spherical beads reflect light during dark hours and periods of low visibility. As the glass beads become worn or wet, the reflectivity becomes greatly diminished resulting in reduced visibility during dark and wet hours.
Lines need repainting each year because of normal wear, tear, and weather. Winter maintenance activities such as plowing, spreading anti-skid materials, and studded tires are very abrasive to paint lines and can cause fading. Normal weathering caused by snow, rain, and ice also contribute to line reflectivity reduction.
State roads with the highest traffic volumes and safety needs are painted first. These include interstates and the National Highway System followed by secondary roadways.
PennDOT establishes painting schedules to minimize delays to motorist. On days before holidays and on Fridays, crews will focus on secondary routes to minimize inconvenience for motorists.
Motorists should use caution and be aware of changing traffic patterns when driving through the area.