Traffic Paint Shortage Threatens Roadwork
“The most important thing for us to do is stripe that center line on a two-lane road,” explained Chris Lippincott, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation. “So I know where I need to be to go north, and you know where you need to be to go south, and so we’re not in the same place at the same time. The laws of physics tend to frown on that.”
Quote from the article:
The Associated General Contractors of America, a major industry trade group, warned state and federal transportation officials last week that the shortage has “very significant ramifications for completion of highway projects this summer,” and asked them not to penalize contractors and suppliers if they are unable to finish projects on time because of a paint shortage that is beyond their control. The scarcity stems in large part from the shortage of an obscure chemical compound called methyl methacrylate, one of the key ingredients in roadworthy paint, which must be sturdy, long-lasting and reflective. A major producer of the compound, Dow Construction Chemicals, had production problems this year at a plant in Deer Park, Tex. Other companies scaled back production during the economic downturn, said Phil Phillips, the managing director of the Chemark Consulting Group, which analyzes the coatings industry. The want of the chemical has started a chain reaction. Aexcel, a company outside Cleveland that makes traffic paint, just used up its supply and may be unable to make additional traffic paint until it gets more in mid-June. “I think we emptied our tank yesterday,” John Milgram, Aexcel’s president, said Friday. He said he had been scouring the country to replenish his stock. |
Source: Traffic Paint Shortage Threatens Roadwork
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