We take them for granted but those traffic markings we see on city streets need constant care and maintenance.
But how do they get there in the first place?
The roads crew has been busy this summer making sure the markings, erased by weather, snow plows, and vehicle tires, get a fresh coat.
The roundabout at the intersection of McKeown and Gormanville is an interesting example.
This week a crew was working to put down new paint and what they call "durables" a thermoplastic cutout that performs the same function as paint markings, only they’re designed to be longer-lasting.
"It's very difficult to do here with the traffic," admits supervisor Jason Leblond. "Everyone is in a rush."
But orange cones are set up and the durables, which come pre-cut in a package, are laid out on the street to be heat treated.
"We try and line them up in the centre of the roadway and it's not easy to do on a roundabout," he chuckles.
Help comes by way of a computer-assisted design document that gives detailed measurements needed to get the markings where they need to be.
"On a roundabout like this, durables last a lot longer than paint," explains Leblond. "Part of the problem at a roundabout is that vehicles are on an angle. It's friction. Tires are aggressively turning in the circle and biting into the corner."
Helping on this day is Franco Ricci. He enjoys the work and has been with the city for 33 years and so has lots of experience working with road markings.
"We put the arrow down where we want it and then use a torch. After it's been heated it's baked onto the asphalt. Then we hammer the edges to keep them from peeling up when a snowplow passes over."
The heating process creates a hydrocarbon bond to the road surface.
"It takes a bit of practice," says Ricci. "and then you get to know the work...it's a bit of a trick. You have to hammer at a bit of an angle so the edges are flattened and you get the moisture out which seals the symbol and prevents peeling.
"The painting is quicker, but the end result is the paint will barely last one year because we are forced to use water-based paint as opposed to oil-based paint, which used to last longer. Road paint doesn't last so it's got to be done sometimes twice a year. When it comes to symbols and arrows we use the durable marking."
The road crew is kept busy, and not just with road markings.
"We have the responsibility of all road markings, all signs and helping with traffic lights. We have a vast amount and variety of work to do. We even do building maintenance at the Public Works Yard, guard rails, trimming brush for traffic sightlines. We cover all of North Bay. We could be on the north highway, then get a call for a stop sign being knocked down at the Callander border."
If you see the crew doing its work, Ricci has a simple request.
"It can be dangerous working in the middle of the street. We want to promote safety and it's the distracted drivers that make us a little nervous."
