TRAFFIC ALERT: Multnomah County Transportation wants to remind all drivers to use caution near road striping crews and to not pass trucks as they install fresh striping.
- Paint takes time to dry (up to six minutes depending on conditions)
- Driving on wet striping paint removes reflectivity beads, making the lines harder to see at night and in wet conditions
- Slow moving pilot trucks around the striper are there to keep people off the paint until it dries
Crossing over freshly painted striping will not only get paint on your tires, it’s also a safety hazard.
“In the striping paint, there’s a mixture of glass beads,” Multnomah County Striper Operator Geoff Rosenberger said. “The glass beads are what make the lines reflective, marking the end of a roadway or separation between lanes of travel. When you drive over the fresh paint, it removes the reflectivity from the line and then this section of roadway may be without reflectivity, making it harder to see travel lanes in dark or wet conditions.”
Striping season typically begins in early spring and runs through fall/early winter. This work is highly dependent on dry weather. If you’re driving near a road striping crew, please be patient, these workers are doing their best to keep the traveling public safe.
The time it takes for fresh striping to dry varies based on temperature, humidity and paint consistency. In order to allow time for the paint to dry and to keep the public safe from the striping work itself, pilot trucks marked with “wet paint” signs are strategically spaced around the striping truck as it installs fresh paint to allow for drying time, protection from equipment and overspray of paint. Pilot trucks move slowly to provide safety for all. Please be patient and do not pass or change lanes as you may drive over the painted lines which will pick up paint and mark your vehicle.
Multnomah County maintains 269 miles of roads, including S.W. 257th Avenue in Troutdale. For more information, visit: http://multco.us/roads.