La Plata County Road & Bridge

Annual Roadway Striping

Durango, CO – The La Plata County Road and Bridge Department conducts road painting operations starting in May and, depending on the weather, may continue into early fall.  Roadway striping hours are usually between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to avoid peak-hour traffic.      

Motorists should use caution when they encounter the road striping operation. Do not drive across the stripes, as paint will splash onto a vehicle if driven across a stripe while the paint is still wet. The paint used to stripe roads is a water-borne paint containing reflective glass beads. If road paint accidentally gets on a vehicle, it can be removed by washing the area with soap and water right away before the paint sets up.

On most roads, motorists approaching a striping operation from behind will see a chase or shadow vehicle with flashing lights and a sign warning “Road Painting Ahead.”  Flashing lights and a “Caution – Wet Paint” sign will identify the striper truck, which sprays the paint stripes onto the road.  Additional warning signs may be used to further inform motorists of the striping operation. Please obey the signed instructions and drive with care when encountering these situations.

The actual paint dry time will vary depending on temperature.  Avoid driving through wet paint – the “no-track” time for paint in normal weather conditions is approximately two to three minutes, however it can be longer.  

To minimize the possibility of getting paint on a vehicle:

• Don’t pass the striper truck. Crews will have a chase or shadow vehicle with a sign warning motorists not to drive on wet paint or pass the striper truck. The striper truck does attempt to pull over at regular intervals where it is safe to do so, which will provide an opportunity to pass.

• Avoid swerving back and forth to see around the striper truck and trail vehicle, as this can track paint over the newly painted lanes on the roadway and splatter paint onto vehicles.

• Please wait at least three to four minutes before crossing over newly painted lines to access or cross a road that has been recently painted, and then do so at a low speed, if possible.

La Plata County does not accept responsibility for any damage that results from driving on wet paint when wet paint warning signs are present.

La Plata County Road and Bridge Department appreciates motorists’ patience and understanding as crews complete this important safety task. Please remember to drive safely.

For additional information, please contact La Plata County’s Road Maintenance Superintendent Doyle Villers at (970) 382-6414, or email [email protected]