Case Study

City of Fargo, N.D., Prioritizes Safety With Systematic
Approach to Durable Pavement Markings
Winters in the Midwest can be harsh, especially on theroads. As roads age and are exposed to the elements,
the striping that delineates lanes tends to fade first.
Creating a systematic approach to maintaining roadmarkings is important, but many cities overlook thisand may not budget for it. In Fargo, N.D., the city has
set itself apart by prioritizing an annual budget for
updating pavement markings. Since 2007, the city has
been working with 3M to implement its 3MTM StamarkTM
All Weather Contrast Tape on concrete surfaces andepoxy markings with 3MTM Wet Reflective Elements onasphalt surfaces, on an ongoing, annual basis.
With a budget set aside, the city of Fargo is able toregularly observe the roads, assess what is required
based on their standards, and contract out projects toupdate the striping as needed. For example, Jeremy
Gorden, transportation division engineer for the city ofFargo, said that based on their most recent evaluation,
15 sites throughout the city need tape replaced.
Due to the long lasting performance of the tape, thisreplacement rate is fairly low considering the city’s 43
square mile footprint and 1,200 lane miles of roads.
“The countryside up here is hot in the summer andcold in the winter with lots of snow, so it just needs tobe maintained over the course of a number of years,”
Gorden said.

Committing to Quality Striping
Decades ago, before the annual program wasimplemented, Fargo city offi
c ials would go out andpaint the streets twice a year with the city’s striping
www.3m.com/roadsafety

Project: Pavement Marking ProgramLocation: Fargo, N.D.
Products: Wet reflective contrast markings forconcrete, wet reflective epoxy for asphalt

machine. Staffers would use a water-based paint,
which Gorden said didn’t last more than a month or
two, meaning roads were poorly marked for months
out of the year.

The city of Fargo, N.D., prioritizes in its annual budget the updating ofpavement markings around the city. It regularly observes and assesses
roads to update the striping as needed.

City managers recognized the need to contract out
the work and invest in more durable striping. As thecommitment to quality striping and the city itself grewover the years, the city’s budget gradually increased
from around $10,000 to the $500,000 now allocated.
Today the wet reflective contrast markings used
for concrete and the wet reflective epoxy used onasphalt, all provided by 3M, allow Fargo’s roads to beclearly marked at all hours and even in most extreme© 3M 2017. All Rights Reserved.

Case Study
conditions for every day of the year. The contrast tapelasts 8 to 11 years, while the epoxy lasts 3 to 5 years.
The daytime contrast performance of the pavement
marking tape is important as it allows for full visibility
when installed on concrete. White tape against white
concrete can be hard for drivers to see. The 3M
tape used for skip dashes differentiating lanes havea 4-inch width of white tape, with a 1.5-inch widthof black tape on each side, increasing the contrast
against the concrete surface.
3M Sales Engineer Chad Weatherman said thiscommitment to clear delineation year-round sets Fargo
apart from other cities. “They’re progressive in the factthat they want a safer line on the road, and they want
it to be seen at all hours of the day and all seasonsof the year,” Weatherman said. “That contrast tapemarking is what helps them.”
The wet reflective performance capability of a pavement
marking is also crucial, as it allows the tape to perform

under wet conditions or inclement weather. This new
innovation at 3M, developed within the past few years,
utilizes a high enough refractive index bead in the designof the 3M tape to reflect light from headlights through thewater and back to the driver’s eyes.
In addition to all of its roadways, Fargo deploys the 3M
tape when updating bike lanes in the city. With manycollege students living in the Fargo area, Weatherman
said prioritizing the durability of bike lane striping has
been critical.

Results and Benefit
Since implementing the use of 3M pavement markings,
the city of Fargo is seeing a long-term investment
continue to deliver positive results. “With 3M tape, you
can get a decade out of it, if its correctly located andinstalled properly,” Gorden said. “It’s just a lot morebang for the buck and it’s really durable. You install itand you don’t have to worry about it for 8 to 10 years.”
One key benefit of Fargo’s annual program is thestability of work that contractors can count on eachyear. In many other cities, pavement markings are
updated on an irregular basis, making it diffi cult forcontractors to plan their staffi ng needs and schedules.
Ultimately, Fargo’s use of 3M tape comes down tosafety. With more visible and durable markings, drivers
are able to navigate the roads throughout the year
even through Fargo’s extreme weather conditions.
Gorden said that at the city, they often are able togauge if taxpayers are satisfied with public spaces
based on how many people call in to complain.
“Nobody ever calls me or emails me about striping,” hesays. “Only when it’s missing.”

Due to the extreme weather Fargo, N.D., can experience on an annual
basis, its pavement markings need to be durable and long-lasting sothat they can be seen by drivers even in the dead of night or duringsnowstorms.

www.3m.com/roadsafety

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