Design

Pavement Marking Changes

The Iowa DOT is adopting 6-inch wide lines as the standard for interstates and primary highways, aligning with the national movement. This wider marking enhances safety, improving visibility and reducing run-off-the-road crashes. It also facilitates detection by vehicle automation and lane-assist systems, preparing for future technology.
 

What are the next steps?

We have been testing 6-inch wide lines on various projects and have received positive feedback. Within the next few years, we will begin installing 6-inch lines on all construction projects and existing lines will be repainted at 6 inches. To prepare for this change, specifications, standards, tabulations, and software packages are being updated to make 6-inch lines the default.

The 4-inch wide line styles will not be removed. We recognize that the 4-inch wide lines still have a use and we will continue to install and refresh pavement markings at 4 inches until funding is established for the transition. These changes do not alter design or construction workflows; they establish the groundwork to ensure our documentation is ready for a future switch to 6-inch lines.
 

When do these changes go into affect?

Please see the information and links below for changes that will go into effect with projects let in April 2024 and after.


Specification Changes

The specification changes have been approved so that 6-inch width is the method of measurement (2527.04 B). This change will be posted online before April 2024.)


Standards


Tabulations

The Tab program has been updated to include these changes.


Pavement marking changes flyer


New bid item code

New Item Code Old Item Code Item Description Units NEW EST. UNIT PRICE
2527-9263209 2527-9263109  PAINTED PAVEMENT MARKING, WATERBORNE OR SOLVENT-BASED STA $57.00
2527-9263212 2527-9263112 PAINTED PAVEMENT MARKINGS, HIGH-BUILD WATERBORNE STA $93.00
2527-9263216 2527-9263116  PAINTED PAVEMENT MARKING, MULTI-COMPONENT LIQUID STA $165.00
2527-9263217 2527-9263117  PAINTED PAVEMENT MARKINGS, DURABLE STA $219.00
2527-9263218 2527-9263118  PAINTED PAVEMENT MARKINGS STA IRREGULAR 
2527-9263222 2527-9263122 PERMANENT TAPE MARKINGS, REGULAR MARKING TAPE STA NOT USED 
2527-9263224 2527-9263124 PERMANENT TAPE MARKINGS, PREFORMED POLYMER MARKING MATERIAL STA NOT USED 
2527-9263225 2527-9263125 PERMANENT TAPE MARKINGS, PREFORMED THERMOPLASTIC MARKING MATERIAL STA $693.00
2527-9263226 2527-9263126  PERMANENT TAPE MARKINGS, PROFILED PAVEMENT MARKING TAPE STA NOT USED 
2527-9263228 2527-9263128  PERMANENT TAPE MARKINGS, INTERSECTION MARKING TAPE STA $787.50
2527-9263231 2527-9263131  WET RETROREFLECTIVE REMOVABLE TAPE MARKINGS STA $286.50
2527-9263181 2527-9263180  PAVEMENT MARKINGS REMOVED STA $79.50
2527-9263233 2527-9263600 REMOVABLE, NONREFLECTIVE, PREFORMED TAPE STA $697.50
2527-9270112 2527-9270111 GROOVES CUT FOR PAVEMENT MARKINGS STA $88.50

New paint factors

Line Type Factor Discription Line Type Factor Discription Line Type Factor Discription
BCY4 0.17 4" Broken Centerline DLW4 0.22 4" Dotted Line RLY4 0.67 4" Ramp Edge Line
BCY6 0.25 6" Broken Centerline DLW6 0.33 6" Dotted Line RLY6 1.00 6" Ramp Edge Line
BLC6 0.50 6" Black/White dash DLY4 0.22 4" Dotted Line SLW2 4.00 Stop Line
BLW4 0.17 4" Broken Lane Line DLY6 0.33 6" Dotted Line SLW4 0.67 4" Solid Lane Line
BLW6 0.25 4" Broken Lane Line ELW4 0.67 4" Edge Line SLW6 1.00 6" Solid Lane Line
CBW6 10.00 Crosswalk Bar ELW6 1.00 6" Edge Line SPW4 2.16 4" Sloped Curb
CHW10 1.67 10" Channelizing Line ELY4 0.67 4" Edge Line SPW6 2.28 6" Sloped Curb
CHW8 1.33 8" Channelizing Line ELY6 1.00 6" Edge Line SPY4 2.16 4" Sloped Curb
CHY10 1.67 10" Channelizing Line LDW10 0.42 10" Lane Drop Line SPY6 2.28 6" Sloped Curb
CHY8 1.33 8" Channelizing Line LDW8 0.33 8" Lane Drop Line STW6 2.03 6" Standard Curb
CLW6 2.00 Crosswalk Line MNY6 1.00 Median nose STY6 2.03 6" Standard Curb
DCY4 1.34 4" Double Centerline NPY4 0.84 4" No Passing Zone YLW2 1.15 Yield Line
DCY6 2.00 6" Double Centerline NPY6 1.25 6" No Passing Zone      
DDY4 0.44 4" Double Dotted Line RLW4 0.67 4" Ramp Edge Line      
DDY6 0.67 6" Double Dotted Line RLW6 1.00 6" Ramp Edge Line      

Factors can be calculated by:

  • Factor = (PL/RL)X(LW/6)
  • PL = Painted Length
  • RL = Repeat Length
  • LW = Line Width

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