Annual road striping to begin on County roads

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, June 28, 2016

County crews and the contractor Apply-A-Line will be repainting road stripes on rural and urban roads throughout the summer.

County striping crews operate during both daytime and nighttime hours, weather permitting. Most roads with higher traffic volumes will be repainted at night.

Striping operations are identified by a vehicle carrying an electronic message board displaying alternating messages such as "Wet Paint" and "Do Not Pass." Flashing lights and a "Caution - Wet Paint" sign will identify the striper truck which sprays the paint stripes onto the road. Additional warning signs or cones may also be used. Travelers should obey the signed instructions and drive with care.

Travelers should use caution when encountering a road striping operation and should not drive across the stripes when the paint is still wet. The paint used to stripe roads is a water-borne, nontoxic paint containing reflective glass beads. Motorists who accidentally get road paint on their vehicles should remove it immediately, before the paint sets up, at a pressure car wash. For more information, visit ODOT's advice for removing striping paint from vehicles. 

Lane striping paint has a short lifetime. The painted yellow-and-white long-line stripes wear out from car and truck tires, chains and snowplows. Rain, snow, sun, sanding material and anti-icing chemicals also take their toll.

Washington County replaces more than 450 lane miles of worn-out road striping each year. Road striping must be done when the road surface is dry and weather is relatively warm. The busiest urban roads are restriped at night when there is less traffic, reducing delays for road users and reducing the chance that the fresh paint will be driven over and tracked. 

For more information about Washington County's road striping program, contact the Department of Land Use & Transportation Operations and Maintenance Division at 503-846-ROAD (846-7623) or [email protected]. 

Related: ODOT video about road striping

Washington County is committed to planning, building and maintaining a great transportation system, ensuring the safety of all roadway users and operating the County roadway system in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.

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