U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000


Skip to content
Facebook iconYouTube iconTwitter iconFlickr iconLinkedInInstagram

Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations

Report
This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information
Publication Number: FHWA-SA-93-001
Date: August 1994

Roadway Delineation Practices Handbook

 

 

ABSTRACT

The Roadway Delineation Practices Handbook was developed to assist design, traffic, and maintenance engineering personnel in making determinations about roadway delineation systems, including the appropriate system for a given situation, when a system has reached the end of its useful life, and how to maintain a quality delineation system. It may also be valuable to consulting engineers, educators, and students.

A companion videotape, Testing and Field Inspection of Roadway Delineation, was produced to assist engineers with field inspection of the quality of delineation projects. This videotape is available separately as publication number FHWA-SA-93-002.

This is the second printing of the second edition of the handbook. The only change from the first printing is a revision of Figure 24, page 103, to reflect the guidance for placement of the railroad crossing pavements Marking symbol in relation to the location of the advance warning sign.

This Handbook supplements the policies and standards provided in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices by offering implementation guidelines for the standards. The contents cover currently and newly developed devices, materials, and installation equipment, presenting each item's expected performance based on actual experience or field and laboratory tests. The Handbook draws on the experiences of Federal, State, county, and city agencies and summarizes future directions and developments as reported in recent research and by industry's technical representatives. Individual chapters cover the characteristics of retroreflection and quality assurance, driver visibility needs, traffic paints, preformed tapes, raised pavement markers and other marking materials, post-mounted delineators and other delineation devices, and administrative and management issues and practices. The appendices provide detailed technical information, including cost analysis techniques; sources of materials and equipment; and a list of standards, specifications, and test methods related to delineation.

 

Roadway Delineation Practices Handbook

PDF Version (16.70 MB)

PDF files can be viewed with the Acrobat® Reader®

 


TECHNICAL REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE

1. Report No.

FHWA–SA–93–001

2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No.
4. Title and Subtitle

Roadway Delineation Practices Handbook

5. Report Date

August 1994

6. Performing Organization Code
7. Author(s)

James Migletz, Joseph K. Fish, and Jerry L. Graham

8. Performing Organization Report No.
9. Performing Organization Name and Address

Graham-Migletz Enterprises, Inc.
P.O. Box 348
Independence, MO 64050

10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)
11. Contract or Grant No.

DTFH61–90–C–00028

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

Office of Safety and Office of Technology Applications
Federal Highway Administration
400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

Handbook

14. Sponsoring Agency Code
15. Supplementary Notes

The Contracting Officer's Technical Representatives were Peter J. Hatzi and James T. Brooks. Drawings and editorial work by Scientific and Commercial Systems Corporation.

16. Abstract

The Roadway Delineation Practices Handbook was developed to assist design, traffic, and maintenance engineering personnel in making determinations about roadway delineation systems, including the appropriate system for a given situation, when a system has reached the end of its useful life, and how to maintain a quality delineation system. It may also be valuable to consulting engineers, educators, and students.

A companion videotape, Testing and Field Inspection of Roadway Delineation, was produced to assist engineers with field inspection of the quality of delineation projects. This videotape is available separately as publication number FHWA-SA-93-002.

This Handbook supplements the policies and standards provided in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices by offering implementation guidelines for the standards. The contents cover currently and newly developed devices, materials, and installation equipment, presenting each item's expected performance based on actual experience or field and laboratory tests. The Handbook draws on the experiences of Federal, State, county, and city agencies and summarizes future directions and developments as reported in recent research and by industry's technical representatives. Individual chapters cover the characteristics of retroreflection and quality assurance, driver visibility needs, traffic paints, preformed tapes, raised pavement markers and other marking materials, post-mounted delineators and other delineation devices, and administrative and management issues and practices. The appendices provide detailed technical information, including cost analysis techniques; sources of materials and equipment; and a list of standards, specifications, and test methods related to delineation.

17. Key Words

Roadway Delineation, Pavement Markings, Retroreflection, Driver Visibility, Traffic Paints, Thermoplastic, Preformed Tapes, Raised Pavement Markers

18. Distribution Statement

No restriction, This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161

19. Security Classification (of this report)

Unclassified

20. Security Classification (of this page)

Unclassified

21. No. of Pages

259

22. Price

Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized

 

FHWA-SA-93-001

Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000
Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center | 6300 Georgetown Pike | McLean, VA | 22101