Virginia Department

of Transportation:

Traffic Engineering

Division - Central Office

Traffic Control Devices Specifications,

Standards & Policy Updates

April 10, 2019

Hilton Norfolk The Main - 100 E. Main Street - Norfolk, VA

Harry A. Campbell, PE, PTOE, ITE Fellow

Traffic Control Devices Engineering Manager

• Specifications – In Progress and Potential

Changes

• Standards Updates

• Policies in Development

• VAA-VDOT Pavement Marking Co-op Meeting

Planned

Agenda

Virginia Department of Transportation

• Section 247 and Section 701 are revised with Supplemental Specifications

SS247-002016-01 and SS701-002016-01. These Supplemental

Specifications will be implemented within months (or less).

• Section 247 (SS247-002016-01) Includes:

(a) ASTM D4956, Type IX and XI Reflective Sheeting shall be used for

Overhead Permanent Signs as specified in SS701-002016-01.

Retroreflectivity and Color requirements shall be maintained for the values

listed in ASTM D4956 after 3 years on the outdoor weathering test rack.

(b) ASTM D4956, Type IV, IX and XI Reflective Sheeting shall be used for

Non-Overhead Permanent Signs as specified in Section 701.

Retroreflectivity and Color requirements shall be maintained for the values

listed in ASTM D4956 after 3 years on the outdoor weathering test rack.

Specification Changes – Supplemental Specifications

Virginia Department of Transportation

(c) ASTM D4956 Type IX or XI Reflective sheeting shall be used

on rigid devices that are not permanent signs or object

markers, including but not limited to the following:• Temporary rigid (non-rollup) signs

• Delineators (Standard ED-2, Standard ED-3, barrier, and guardrail)

• Permanent impact attenuators (except permanent sand barrels)

• Guardrail end terminals

• Type 3 barricades (Orange sheeting does not have to be Fluorescent)

• Group 2 channelizing device vertical panels

• Directional indicator barricades

• STOP/SLOW hand paddles

• Rear panels of truck- and trailer-mounted attenuators

• Barrier panels temporarily installed on traffic barrier service

Specifications (Continued Section 247)

Virginia Department of Transportation

(d) ASTM D4956 Type IV reflective sheeting meeting the ASTM

D4956 Supplementary Requirements (S2) shall be used on the

following traffic control devices:

• Tubular markers

• Flexible post delineators

• Drums (See Note 1 below)

• Temporary sand barrels (See Note 1 below)

• Permanent sand barrels

• Cones

Specifications (Continued Section 247)

Virginia Department of Transportation

(a) Reflective sheeting shall conform to Section 247 and shall be

selected from the Department’s Approved List 46. The color for

the legend and background shall be in accordance with the

MUTCD and as specified in the Plans. 1. Overhead Permanent Signs (signs attached to sign structures which overhang travel

lanes) that are not illuminated with sign lighting shall use ASTM D4956 Type XI reflective

sheeting. Overhead permanent signs that are illuminated with sign lighting shall use

ASTM D4956 Type IX sheeting.

Specifications SS701-002016-01 (Section 701)

Virginia Department of Transportation

2. Non-Overhead Permanent Signs (including ground-mount signs, signs

attached to traffic signal supports, and signs attached to sign structures

that do not overhang travel lanes) shall use ASTM D4956 reflective sheeting

as follows:

Background Color of Sign Sheeting Type

White ASTM D4956 Type XI

Red ASTM D4956 Type XI

Yellow ASTM D4956 Type XI2

Fluorescent Yellow-Green ASTM D4956 Type XI3

Green ASTM D4956 Type XI

Black ASTM D4956 Type XI

Purple ASTM D4956 Type XI

Brown ASTM D4956 Types IV, IX, or XI

Blue ASTM D4956 Types IV, IX, or XI

Specifications SS701-002016-01 (Continued Section 701)

Virginia Department of Transportation

Footnotes:1The following signs may use ASTM D4956 Types IV, IX, or XI, regardless of color: Pushbutton

education signs (R10-series signs mounted adjacent to pedestrian pushbuttons), Signs

erected on bikeways physically separated from adjacent roads, R7- or R8-series parking

restriction signs located on non-limited-access highways, D10-series Reference Location

Signs (mile markers) and Intermediate Reference Location Signs, and Post-mounted street

name signs.

2The yellow portions of all yellow W1-series (horizontal change of alignment) signs, W10-series

(railroad warning) signs, and object markers, including supplemental plaques erected beneath

those signs, shall be fluorescent. All other yellow sheeting on signs may be fluorescent or

non-fluorescent.

3All temporary and permanent warning signs related to school zones, pedestrians, or bicyclists

(including associated supplemental plaques) shall use fluorescent yellow-green sheeting

where required by the VA Supplement to the MUTCD unless otherwise specified on the Plans.

Specifications SS701-002016-01 (Continued Section 701)

Virginia Department of Transportation

Sign width1 Allowable substrate

47 inches and less 0.080 or 0.100 inch aluminum

48 inches and more 0.100 inch aluminum

Overlay panel 0.063 inch aluminum

1For diamond-shaped signs, width is measured along the sign’s edge.

Specifications (Continued Section 701)

Virginia Department of Transportation

(c) Sign panel substrates for permanent flat sheet signs shall be in

accordance with the below table, and shall be smooth, flat, and free of metal

burrs and splinters.

Aluminum substrates for permanent flat sheet signs and overlay panels shall

be aluminum alloy in accordance with Section 229.02(a).

cn512-000130-00

TEMPORARY CONTRAST MARKINGS - Type D, Class III pavement markings

shall be used for all longitudinal temporary pavement markings on bridge

decks and hydraulic cement concrete riding surfaces if all of the following

are met:

The road has a speed limit of 45 MPH or greater.

The hydraulic cement concrete riding surface in question is at least 300 feet in

length.

The temporary markings are planned for at least 15 days of use.

Type D, Class III contrast markings are not required for any markings that are

parallel to and within two feet of existing guardrail or other longitudinal

barrier.

SPCN – Temporary Contrast Markings

Virginia Department of Transportation

• Pilot Tested at sites in Virginia

• Finding of Public Interest – FHWA Approved

• An alternative to most I-Beam Structures (V-A and VI-A)

• Standards issued and then pulled from

VDOT’s Standards – Hinge Plate Issue

• I-Beams allowed until at least

December 2019 in the Clear Zone

• Corrected Standards for 4-Inch

7 gage are being corrected will be

re-issued this year.

Sign Structural Supports: 4-Inch 7 Gage Square Tube Post

with MASH Tested Slip Base

Virginia Department of Transportation

4-Inch Square Tube Sign Post:

Standard Updates - Design Table

12

Table 2 (also

applies to rest

of Virginia)

Table 1

• Two tables based on AASHTO design wind speeds,

experience, and risk considerations:

• Design Table for eastern portions of

Hampton Roads District

• Design Table for the rest of Virginia

• Taller Centroid and Larger Signs are

the most impacted by the corrections

• In the Interim the revised design

can be requested by Project

Temporary Pavement Policy Development

• Changes already include that when Temporary Tape is used only Type D-

III may be used.

• Retroreflective markings within a Work Zone can contribute to improved

safety and provide a motorist with positive guidance to navigate through

the work zone. Wet reflectivity is an important element on higher speed

roadways.

• VDOT is developing a first DRAFT of Guidance to Designers of the

Maintenance of Traffic Plans that will primarily focus on:

1. Road Type, Speed and Volume,

2. Duration

3. Pavement Type

13

Permanent Pavement Markings Policies

• Continue using B-VI Tape on the Limited Access highways unless the

surface will be redone within 4 years,

• B-VI can be used on other non-limited access roads with higher speeds

and volumes,

• Deploy Thermoplastic placement at higher temperatures with Mixed Bead

Elements and strict bead embedment inspection to achieve required wet

retroreflectivity, performance and durability.

• Deploy High-Build Paint with an AASHTO Type III bead,

• Implement Thermoplastic and High-Build Paint as part of Paving

Practices and Retrace Contracts,

14

15

Points of Contact by Topic Areas

• Markings, Signs, and TCD Specs/Standards:

Marc.Lipschultz@VDOT.virginia.gov or

(804) 371-6022

Harry.Campbell@VDOT.Virginia.gov or

(804) 786-6374

There is an Engineer I Vacancy in our Office

• Temporary Traffic Control:

David.Rush@VDOT.Virginia.gov

• Lighting/Electrical:

Mansour.Mahban@VDOT.Virginia.gov

• Traffic Control Devices Product Preapproval

Process:

Bret.Galloway @VDOT.Virginia.gov

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

16Thanks For Inviting VDOT To Present

YOUR UNCLE SAM WANTS QUALITY

PAVEMENT MARKINGS

Traffic Control Devices,

especially Pavement

Markings are critical to

improving safe guidance for

the Human Driver.

Let’s Make Pavement

Markings Great Again!