Median lines will be green this year on New Brunswick roads.
Actually, lines will still be yellow, but the process used to mark them will be more environmentally friendly: the province has just bought a new modern vehicle to apply the paint used to mark roads.
The provincial Transportation Department has shelled out 330 000 $ to buy the vehicle, which will use a water-based paint during the next construction season.
Transportation Department employees will be able to paint quickly and more effectively, believes minister Denis Landry.
"The vehicle is fully fitted to apply water-based traffic marking paint, which will help us make the transition from using oil-based paints to environmentally friendly water-based paints," said Landry.
According to him, around 40 % of the paint applied in New Brunswick, last year, was water-based.
"This year, we anticipate that we will exceed 90 per cent," hopes Denis Landry.
Reducing smog
The Department's findings indicate that oil-based paints used for road marking create smog because they contain high quantities of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In fact, oil-based paint is composed of about 450 grams per liter of VOCs, while water-based paints count less than 150 grams per liter.
VOCs contribute to form particles, which, in return, are present in smog. Smog episodes are increasing every year in cities across the country and have a serious impact on people's health.
Peterbilt New Brunswick will build the truck's body while Road Services International will have to create the striping apparatus.
photo:Communications Nouveau-Brunswick
Actually, lines will still be yellow, but the process used to mark them will be more environmentally friendly: the province has just bought a new modern vehicle to apply the paint used to mark roads.
The provincial Transportation Department has shelled out 330 000 $ to buy the vehicle, which will use a water-based paint during the next construction season.
Transportation Department employees will be able to paint quickly and more effectively, believes minister Denis Landry.
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| Tyrone Parsons, Engineer; Minister Landry; Carol MacQuarrie, Maintenance and Traffic Director; and Ronnie McGraw, Technician, Highway Signing and Lighting. |
"The vehicle is fully fitted to apply water-based traffic marking paint, which will help us make the transition from using oil-based paints to environmentally friendly water-based paints," said Landry.
According to him, around 40 % of the paint applied in New Brunswick, last year, was water-based.
"This year, we anticipate that we will exceed 90 per cent," hopes Denis Landry.
Reducing smog
The Department's findings indicate that oil-based paints used for road marking create smog because they contain high quantities of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In fact, oil-based paint is composed of about 450 grams per liter of VOCs, while water-based paints count less than 150 grams per liter.
VOCs contribute to form particles, which, in return, are present in smog. Smog episodes are increasing every year in cities across the country and have a serious impact on people's health.
Peterbilt New Brunswick will build the truck's body while Road Services International will have to create the striping apparatus.
photo:Communications Nouveau-Brunswick