CHARLESTON, WV – If you’re driving on US 35 near Point Pleasant, you might encounter a stretch of the road laden with brightly colored rumble strips. Rest assured, this isn’t an attempt to transform the highway into a parking lot.

The West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) has teamed up with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to test various road striping materials on this segment of the highway. The initiative aims to evaluate the durability of different products used for highway striping.

“AASHTO appreciates West Virginia providing us the resources to do this work,” said Katheryn Malusky, program director of the AASHTO Product Evaluation and Audit Solutions section.

Thirty-two manufacturers are participating, putting 150 different products to the test. These materials are applied to the road, and data will be collected over the next three years to see which ones withstand real-world traffic conditions the best.

The costs for the materials and application are being covered by the manufacturers, while AASHTO is responsible for data collection. The WVDOH is providing the test site.

Motorists will encounter signs placed by the WVDOH to alert them before they reach the test area.