Thermoplastic is often one of the last visible steps before a roadway, entrance, or site circulation pattern is put back in service. Because drivers read the pavement first, we treat thermoplastic pavement markings as a scope that depends on coordination and clear field layout, not a quick pass at the end. We work from approved plans and verify layout in the field so lines, legends, and symbols match plan intent and align with GDOT and local agency requirements.
Before we ever heat material, we confirm sequencing with paving and traffic-control teams, review lane-closure limits and work hours, and make sure the work zone can be set safely for crews and the traveling public. Phase changes and tie-ins are where confusion can show up fast, so we focus on how new markings transition into existing patterns. When schedules shift-as they often do with paving, milling, utility work, or weather-we communicate early and adjust the work window so finished markings are predictable for inspectors and reliable under real traffic.
Bond and durability start with the surface you're asking the material to grab. We plan for clean, dry pavement and verify conditions in the field because tracked-on clay, dust film, curing compounds, moisture, and loose millings can weaken adhesion, especially near construction entrances and active grading. Cleanup can become part of the striping scope when haul routes cross or adjacent earthwork is still moving fines, and we keep erosion-control considerations in mind during sweeping and blowing so sediment is not pushed toward inlets or off the edge where it can impact best management practices (BMPs) and drainage paths. Substrate type matters, too-new asphalt, aged asphalt, concrete, seal coat, milled surfaces, and areas with bleeding binder all accept heat and bond differently-so we plan around actual pavement conditions rather than forcing a placement that can fail early or require rework.
On install day, we focus on accuracy, consistency, and visibility. Crews verify alignment and spacing, then apply thermoplastic at the specified thickness and pattern while keeping equipment speed steady so edges stay clean and the marking performs as designed. Glass beads are applied immediately for nighttime performance, and we check coverage, edge definition, and cooldown before opening lanes to reduce tracking and premature edge damage. Interface areas typically take the most attention-tie-ins at intersections, transitions around turn lanes, bridge approaches, and anywhere new work meets older surfaces-because that's where drivers read the pavement most and where peeling often starts if prep is rushed.
After placement, thermoplastic cools quickly, but we still verify set and protect the work from early tracking before traffic is released. For long-term performance, we set clear expectations: markings will wear faster in high-turn zones, heavy braking areas, and places with frequent sweeping, resurfacing activity, or utility cuts. On projects still under construction, we plan around maintenance of traffic and future lifts-temporary patterns, phased openings, and final surface courses can require multiple mobilizations to keep the roadway compliant and readable through each stage. The cleanest results come from sequencing: stabilize adjacent soils, keep sediment controlled at entrances, maintain a clean pavement surface ahead of striping, and install markings when the final wearing surface is ready to receive them.
