November 2022
INDOT has tested orange pavement markings in work zones with promising results.
“The research projects will help quantify the safety and operational benefits of different temporary pavement marking types,” said Senior Engineer of Signals & Markings Joe Bruno. “The use of orange markings could add to motorist awareness that they are in a work zone, which could potentially reduce the number of crashes in work zones. The projects may lead to INDOT and the Federal Highway Administration developing formal guidelines and design standards for orange markings in work zones.”
In June 2022, crews laid down orange traffic paint on the Indiana Toll Road in a contrast pattern in a work zone just west of State Road 933 in St. Joseph County. The orange paint was applied adjacent to the solid yellow centerline, which became three-fourths orange, one-fourth yellow. Orange paint was also applied to the white dashes, resulting in dashes that are half white and half orange, lengthwise. And, orange paint accompanied the edge line, which became three-fourths orange, one-fourth white.
In August 2022, crews applied the same kind of orange traffic paint in a work zone on I-65 near U.S. 52 in Boone County as part of an added-travel-lane project.
“The orange-painted pavement markings have held up well at both project sites,” said Bruno. “The color is intact, and we’re measuring results regarding the number of crashes and other factors in the work zones.”
The INDOT research project, in collaboration with Indiana State University and the Joint Transportation Research Project, is scheduled to be completed by June 2023.
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