BRYANT — No, it was not some precise paint-spilling mistake. There really is supposed to be a zigzagging white line down the middle of the lane.
Washington State Department of Transportation crews painted the zigzagging pavement markings in both directions of Highway 9 approaching the Centennial Trail crossing, near Stanwood-Bryant Road, over the weekend of Aug. 14-15.
The 200-foot markings aim to remind drivers to slow down as they approach the trail crosswalk and watch for pedestrians and bicyclists.
“A lot of times when we’re driving on rural highways like that it can be easy to zone out and not notice signs,” spokesman Mike Allende said. “So having a unique marking in the middle of the road will hopefully increase driver compliance with slowing down near crosswalks.”
Allende said the markings are used extensively in Europe (including the iconic Abbey Road crossing from the Beatles album). They’ve also been used in Virginia and Hawaii. But this is a first for Washington.
Two spots on Highway 20 in Concrete also will be getting the markings. The total project cost for the three spots is expected to fall under $6,000.
“We’re going to be evaluating them and, if they’re successful, we might consider them in the future as possible low-cost alternatives to installing electrical crosswalk indicators in particular spots,” Allende said.
In the United Kingdom, these are called “zebra crossings.” That country also has crossings named for pelicans, puffins, toucans and pegasus.
Yes, yes. But are they invisible?
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