Country Victorian roads get major glow-up
VicRoads has installed new photoluminescent double lines in regional areas to help drivers stay alertA major glow-up is underway for roads in parts of regional Victoria, thanks to a trial run of new photoluminescent (glow in the dark) road markings.
The move is part of a bid to drive down road trauma in the state, following a spike in fatalities across the nation in the past 12 months as pandemic restrictions ease.
Partnering with line marking company Tarmac Linemarking, which has depots at both Trafalgar and Bairnsdale in Victoria, the photoluminescent markings appear a whole lot brighter than standard white lines – at least in photographs posted to its Facebook page.
In its Facebook post, Tarmac Linemarking said it had been chosen to work with OmniGrip and VicRoads to roll out a second batch of the all-new line markings.
The post has since gained plenty of traction on social media, with many asking where the new markings are located and how long they glow for.
Tarmac Linemarking told carsales the company – which was selected by the Victorian government to participate in the second of two trials in regional areas – treated a 1km section of road at Metung in East Gippsland (Vic).
More trials around the Gippsland Shire are set to take place next, however, it’s unclear whether any other states will trial the potentially life-saving tech.
Using a $400,000 machine to lay the photoluminescent markings, Tarmac says that unlike paint used for normal lane markings, the glowing lines consist of a two-layer system made of thermoplastic.
The first layer – which needs to be heated up to around 200 degrees before application – acts as a type of ‘battery’ that charges throughout the day, while the top layer is the stuff that glows.
Tarmac says that unlike regular glow in the dark paint, the photoluminescent markings will last throughout the night, and works equally well on winging roads.
The clever new line markings are said to have the same lifespan as other thermoplastic coatings – approximately three to five years.
“This will be an outstanding product for pedestrians & bike lines, roads, boat ramps and many more applications!” said Tarmac Linemarking on Facebook.
Related: Road fatalities spike as pandemic restrictions ease
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