Wisconsin Guide Sign Program
In 2008, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) awarded a
contract to 3M Roadway Maintenance Services to upgrade overhead and
shoulder-mounted guide signs along U.S. Highway 12 in Madison, Wisconsin.
The project includes contract requirements for providing two unique
deliverables to WisDOT: (1) furnish and install new high performance, highly
reflective guide signs, and (2) provide a project tracking and sign inventory
database of the new signs that is compatible with the Department's existing
statewide sign inventory system.
On January 22, 2008, the FHWA requirements for maintaining minimum
levels of sign retroreflectivity became effective, creating additional incentive
for WisDOT to initiate a formal program to begin upgrading their aging guide
sign infrastructure. In addition to the actual replacement of non-compliant
signs, the "minimums" also require a systematic process of maintaining the
signs over time to ensure minimum levels of retroreflectivity are met.
WisDOT is currently using an existing inventory system to manage and track
the age and sheeting type of their signs, which is an FHWA-approved
method to meet the "minimum retroreflectivity" requirement.
WisDOT is considered a leader of utilizing a statewide sign inventory system
to manage their traffic signs. One of the challenges for WisDOT is updating
their existing sign inventory system once sign improvement projects are
completed. The 3M team is solving this problem for WisDOT by providing
guide sign installation services that include the use of 3M's web-based data
management system. This system tracks the progress of the project on a
daily basis, visible to Department personnel at any time, in addition to
organizing and tracking the guide sign attribute information that is uploaded
into the Department's statewide sign inventory database at the end of the
project.
In addition to developing a comprehensive plan to comply with FHWA
minimum requirements for guide signs, WisDOT is evaluating the use of high
performance retroreflective sheeting on guide signs as a method to turn off
guide sign lighting in most situations to create significant energy and
maintenance savings. WisDOT is considering a similar performance-based
guide sign program in the Milwaukee area that would include upgrade of
guide signs and turning off guide sign lighting. WisDOT provided leadership
to organize a nationwide study identifying guide sign lighting policies and
what other states are doing to address this issue. Thirty states responded to
the survey with most states indicating that they are considering some form
of a guide sign lighting deactivation program except in certain situations
such as locations with frequent fog problems or where road segment
geometrics may require lighting to supplement vehicle headlights.
To complete the WisDOT project, 3M is providing guide signs manufactured
with high performance 3M™ Diamond Grade™ DG³ Reflective Sheeting incorporating "full cube" technology for optimal performance. This high
performance sheeting includes optical elements that are 100 percent
efficient, returning almost 60% of available light to the driver's eye - nearly
double that of traditional prismatic sheeting material.
Another unique aspect of the WisDOT contract requires the prime contractor
to provide a comprehensive 15-year warranty on both labor and materials
for finished and installed guide signs to meet minimum levels of
retroreflection. As the prime contract holder, 3M maintained complete
control of the entire manufacturing, fabrication, and installation process and
therefore has put in place the quality checks necessary to take on the added
risk to provide this warranty to WisDOT. This warranty guarantees high
performance of the guide signs for the entire 15-year warranty period with a
virtual "hands-off" situation for WisDOT should any problems develop.
