Road striping operations have begun throughout the state and the Missouri Department of Transportation is urging motorists to use caution when encountering work crews.
According to a news release, MoDOT currently is striping two-lane roadways and will be working on freeways and expressways in June, July and August. Drivers will see slow-moving caravans of trucks refreshing the lines on the roadway.
Striping crews must travel slowly, as they paint roadway markings to ensure a good quality line. The striping trains move between 8 and 12 mph when workers are painting white and yellow lines on the highways. The trucks have flashing lights, boards with flashing arrows and signs that say, “SLOW VEHICLES” and “WET PAINT.”
Most of the striping is done during daylight hours. However, it is not uncommon to see crews working at night on interstate highways and other high-volume divided highways. Rain or very damp conditions will cancel or cut short any striping work that is scheduled.
Safety Tips
· Don’t drive distracted, wear your seat beat and put your cellphone down. Be patient if you come across MoDOT crews and give them the space to do their job safely.
· Slow down as soon as you see the lights and signs and keep your distance until it is safe to go around the trucks.
· On four-lane divided highways, pull around the striping train by merging carefully into the open lane, passing all the trucks in the train before moving back into the driving lane.
· On two-lane highways, stay behind the last truck in the striping train. This vehicle is placed well behind the striping truck to give the new paint the few minutes it needs to dry. If traffic backs up behind the striping train, MoDOT crews will pull off the road where it is safe to do so to let congestion clear.
· MoDOT uses water-based paint in all its highway operations. If you drive through wet paint, clean your car as quickly as possible with a high-powered water hose, such as those used in car washes.