Don’t do a double take this fall if you see INDOT crews painting roadways when temperatures are in the 30s. Despite the chilly temps, the paint will cure properly, dry quickly, and adhere to the pavement. That’s because INDOT has switched to paint featuring next-generation all-acrylic resin for pavement markings.
INDOT’s pavement marking quality initiative includes new paint and resin and other improvements.
Previously, INDOT used paint with application specifications of 50 degrees or warmer. Last fall, INDOT tested two promising Dow products: 5408A resin paint and HD-21A resin paint. Each resin had similar benefits, including quick drying, excellent durability, and potentially enhanced retention of glass beads. The 5408A product had the added advantage of tolerating cold-weather application — down to 35 degrees.
“Both products tested well last fall as they offer improved durability for year-round visibility,” said INDOT Statewide Maintenance Operations Director Zach DeLoach. “But the 5408A stood out, and the added benefit of cold-weather painting helped push it over the top because that means we can extend painting operations later into the season. We monitored those painted lines throughout the winter and spring. Earlier this year, INDOT updated its paint specifications to 5408A.”