Case Study

Michigan DOT Implements First All Wet
Reflective Work Zone Standard in the Nation
Michigan’s Department of Transportation (MDOT)
had been using wet reflective optics in its permanent
pavement markings on certain larger construction
projects for years when officials decided to establish
a standard to require full wet reflectivity in its
work zones. MDOT wanted to increase safety andvisibility in construction zones, where changing lane
assignments combined with rain and darkness canmake it difficult to see temporary markings without wet
reflective optics.
In 2015, the department’s work zone team workedwith local contractor PK Contracting to test wet
reflective paints for performance. After developing
and selecting the permitted products—including 3M’s
all-weather elements and temporary tape as well asothers—MDOT implemented the new standard for
all wet reflective work zones in the state in 2016.
The guideline mandating the use of temporary wetreflective tape and paint in work zones is the first of
its kind in the country and went into full effect in 2017,
according to MDOT Work Zone Delivery Engineer
Chris Brookes.

Testing Solutions for the Standard

MDOT had already been using wet reflectivetemporary tape but needed to develop a wet reflectivewaterborne paint to meet the new standard. Afterteaming up with PK Contracting and 3M, testing wasdone to pinpoint the right thickness and compositionof the paint for Michigan’s roads. “The challenge wasmaking a paint that was temporary but had enoughwww.3m.com/roadsafety

Project: Full Wet Reflectivity in Work Zones

Program

Location: State of Michigan
Owner: Michigan Department of Transportation
Products: Wet reflective paint

MDOT’s all-wet reflective work zone standard sets a strong example forwork zone safety nationwide.

binder to hold on to the wet reflective optics longenough for a work zone stage” said MDOT Work Zone
Tech Specialist Chuck Bergmann.
“It definitely took rounds of various testing anddifferent [experiments by] trial and error until we reallyfelt that we were comfortable with the performancethat they got out of it,” said 3M Government
Transportation Safety Specialist Brad Stone.
© 3M 2017. All Rights Reserved.

Case Study
Testing was done to assess the performance of paints
with varying thicknesses and reflective bead loads.
Bergmann stated they put down 10 to 12 different paintapplications and bead loads for a two-month period,
which is the average stage length for a construction
zone.
After reviewing all the options, they selected the paintapplication with the strongest performance. This paint
had an increased thickness of 18 mils compared to
the 15 mils the department was using previously. It
also included 6 pounds per gallon of glass beads
and 4 pounds per gallon of the wet reflective optic.
Bergmann said because of the increased thickness,they had to slow down the speeds of the paint trucks
from 10-18 mph to 8 mph.
“We didn’t want the optics to roll in the paint and get
totally covered, and we didn’t want them bouncing outof the line either,” Bergmann said. “So far it seems tobe working well.”

Implementation and Feedback

Before implementing the new standard, MDOT’sBrookes said data showed that about 35 percent
of work zone crashes occurred during dusk, dawn
or rainy periods. As a Toward Zero Deaths (TZD)
partner, the department knew it was important toprioritize construction zone line markings to make lane
assignments clearer.
“It is very important to fully understand from thedriver’s perspective, where you are supposed to be
to help reduce crashes and help improve the overallsafety,” Brookes said.
Since the standard is so new, MDOT doesn’t yet
have data to illustrate its effects. But since the newrules were established, the department has received
positive feedback about the visibility of work zone
lines. “It’s been fairly smooth now that we have all of
our specs figured out and all of the language correct inour documents,” Brookes said. “Since we’ve made thatchangeover, there really hasn’t been any issues or anynegative feedback that we’ve received to date. It’s all
been positive.”
Bergmann said another benefit is the ability forworkers to jump into a truck and stripe a wet reflective
paint or tape line, which is more efficient than thetedious process of putting down temporary raised
pavement markers that can provide the same affect.
Along with ensuring that the motoring public in
Michigan is guided from point A to point B as safely as
possible, MDOT is setting an example for wet reflective
work zones across the country.

With more than a third of work zone crashes occurring during dusk, dawn
or rainy periods, MDOT made it a priority to increase the visibility of workzone line markings.

Request a Product Demowww.3m.com/roadsafety“MDOT prides itself in being a leader in testing andbeing innovative, and this is just one other way that
we were meeting the goals that were set forth in ourdepartment,” Brookes said.
© 3M 2017. All Rights Reserved.