DURABLE MARKING, LINE AND CROSSWALK PAINTING WELL UNDERWAY
Repainting road markings are a priority for the City in the spring to help drivers, cyclists and pedestrians stay safe on the roads. Traditional road paint tends to wear off from winter snow grading, salting and sanding, as well as repeated vehicle traffic. This year, we are expanding our use of durable road markings, which lasts much longer.
Durable road markings have now been applied to portions of 1st Avenue, Central Avenue, Circle Drive and Preston Avenue, bringing the first phase to an end. The contractor will return mid-June to begin the next round which includes portions of Preston Avenue, Cumberland Avenue, 51st Street and McOrmond Drive.
Centre lines are now 29 per cent complete; and crosswalk painting is 36 per cent complete. This past week we painted crosswalks in Willowgrove, Varsity View and Riversdale.
The cost of the annual road painting program is $800,000 per year. In 2014, an additional $500,000 will be spent on durable markings that can last between 7 and 10 years. Line painting is just one aspect of the City of Saskatoon’s Building Better Roads effort where we are investing nearly $50 million into road-related maintenance, rehabilitation and construction.
City crews paint road markings two to three times each year:
- Lane lines, edge lines and centre lines are painted three times a year,
- Crosswalks are painted at least twice a year, and
- Sharrows, chevrons and parking stall lines are painted once a year.
Road markings are re-painted if they have been removed for repairs or construction. To minimize traffic disruptions and for the safety of workers, high-traffic streets are painted in the evening.
“Safety of our staff and others on the road is a key focus for us this construction season,” says Angela Gardiner, Director of Transportation. “With so much extra work happening on the roads this year, we ask everyone approaching work zones or passing painting vehicles to slow down, pay attention and give workers the room they need to get the job done. If everyone makes safety a priority, we will be able to work through the 2014 construction season safely and successfully.”
Construction season is underway! For the latest updates and schedules on everything from road repairs and restrictions to street sweeping, go to saskatoon.ca and click on “Building Better Roads”.
For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca/go/traffic. You can also follow us on Twitter @cityofsaskatoon and with #BetterRoadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.