District of North Vancouver staff will start exploring how to improve paint and demarcating lines on roads after a council motion passed unanimously on April 8.
The motion followed a report by Coun. Lisa Muri, who asked that staff report back on options to improve road marking visibility in the District of North Vancouver and review the availability and cost of photoluminescent paint for road lines.
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“Many sections of road in the District of North Vancouver have poor road marking visibility, causing hazardous conditions for vehicles travelling during darkness and weather events,” Muri said in her report.
Despite annual inspections and repainting, Muri pointed out that road markings often fade due to wet conditions and snowplowing during winter. She proposed using highly visible road markings, such as photoluminescent paint, used in Europe and Australia.
This paint, which absorbs sunlight during the day and glows in the dark, would provide a clearer visual guide for drivers, particularly in accident-prone areas like Mount Seymour Parkway, Mountain Highway, and Main Street at Dollarton Highway, the veteran councillor said.
“With increasing volume on local roadways, the use of improved materials for road markings will ensure that road standards meet safety requirements for residents and visitors to the District at all times of the year,” Muri said.
Muri also pointed out that the switch from traditional paint to water-based paint for environmental reasons has led to road markings that are less durable and prone to fading or chipping. “Right after we finished the Mountain Highway interchange, I called Mr. Joyce and said all the lines on the road had disappeared,” she recalled. He went down the route on his way home after a council meeting, and, lo and behold, all the lines had disappeared.”
She also mentioned that yellow Ministry of Transportation lines seem to hold up better than the white paint, which fades more rapidly. Another concern is with “cat’s eyes,” which are often chipped off by snow plows. Muri noted that the “cat’s eyes” are embedded in the pavement in Washington state, which may improve their longevity.
Muri outlined other contributing factors, such as uneven pavement, pooling water, and heavy rain, making road lines hard to see, especially at night. She expressed her concerns for those driving in low light. “It’s frightening,” she said. “And if you’re not very clear on where you should be on the road, and you’re relying on those lines, they’re just not there to help protect you.”
Ive been noticing a lot of our roadways have no lines painted. There is a better chance that traffic would slow down if the midpoint was marked. Cars parked along the curb make it so the moving car needs to move over, if the line was there one may try to stay within it but without a line you can maintain your speed and just move into the otherside of roadway to pass. Mountain Highway near Keith Road has no lane marking so cars turning off Keith onto Mountain Highway go where they wish when turning.