ZigZag Pavement Marking coming to SR20 near Concrete, WA

Concrete, WA:  The Washington State Department of Transportation  (WSDOT) hopes to save lives by painting zigzag lines on the roadways near Concrete, WA.

Tom Pearce, with the Washington State Department of Transportation said Folks traveling on SR 20 near Concrete will soon see zigzag lines  on the highway.  WSDOT plans to add the zigzag pavement markings to the areas approaching crosswalks on SR 20 near Superior Avenue and E Street. The markings run for about 200 to 250 feet down the middle of the roadway in each direction.

Tom Pearce says, “No, it’s not a mistake. The markings are designed to get drivers’ attention so they notice the signs warning them of an approaching bicycle and pedestrian crossing. The zigzag markings are a test – the first of their kind in Washington state – to see if they might help improve driver’s compliance with slowing down approaching a crosswalk.”

While WSDOT says they  haven’t had any specific safety problems in these areas, this is a low-cost way for them  to try something that they believe will increase the level of compliance at crosswalks. The idea is to reduce collisions.

Concrete is the second place in the state to get the markings. The first zigzag lines were placed on SR 9 near Stanwood at the Centennial Trail crossing.

This type of marking has been successful when used in states such as  Virginia and Hawaii. Europe has also successfully  used the zigzag markings. – they are even at the iconic Abbey Road crossing in London.

 

 

Mike Allende  from the WSDOT Blog says ” When you get in some of these rural locations, drivers can start to tune out and all of a sudden you come upon these particular crossings. A recent study of the SR 9 crossing showed that 18 percent of vehicles did not slow down or stop for a pedestrian at the crosswalk, which currently also has a flashing beacon that can be activated by pedestrians and cyclists. The new zigzag crosswalks will help give a visual indication that you’re approaching a crosswalk and you should slow down and be aware.”

The cost of installing the new pavement markings in the three locations is expected to be between $5,000-$6,000. The paint is the same as is currently used in crosswalks and railroad crossings so vehicles – including motorcycles – should have no issues traveling over them.

WSDOT says “If the test program at these sites is successful, we may evaluate other areas that could benefit from the unique pavement markings as a low-cost alternative to electronic crosswalk indicators.”

 

Source: WSDOT Press Memo and Blog