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Chattanooga and surrounding areas are no exception. The mandate calls for larger, higher quality reflective signage.
Ben Taylor/Traffic Engineering manager says, "The overall issue is bringing up signs to a level that people can see at night...they must meet minimum retroflectivity standards." Statistics show half of all fatal wrecks occur at night. And what's more, new car headlights project less light at signs. Taylor says, "The biggest hit is going to be the yellow background signs..all of ours are made out of engineer grade..low level of reflectivity." Taylor notes the first step is to find out how many signs are in the city and which ones to fix. Taylor says, "It's going to be huge. It's going to be driving every street at night so we can determine retro-flectivity...the amount of light that's bounced back from the sign to the driver." The city will also be required to enlarge the lettering on some signs. By 2012 all warning signs will be replaced. By 2018 street markers and overhead guide signs will be replaced. Current engineer grade signs cost $4.63 per 30." The new signs will be $8.06. That's a 75 percent increase. Taylor adds, "But they'll last longer in the field which means we won't have to replace the signs as often." Taylor plans to apply for grants to help with the cost of the changes. Although he notes most of the money is earmarked for smaller cities.
Eventually roadway stripes and informational signs like the blue and white and brown and white signs will also have to be fixed.
The government says cities across the country must update road signs.
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