KERNERSVILLE, N.C. — Road markings along I-40 in Kernersville are causing confusion for drivers.
On Tuesday, a viewer shared a photo with us from I-40 West near Union Cross Road. It appears to show a new merge lane but the old lines are still visible. We reached out to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for answers.
DOT said the new markings are part of a traffic shift (between Union Cross Road and High Point Road in Forsyth County) as crews continue construction for the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway.
On Saturday, crews removed most of the old pavement markings before putting down new ones.
NCDOT said the line removal process leaves the surface bright and new since it is not only removing the markings, but also oils, dirt, and other debris.
But with the rain on Sunday, the contrast between the new and old surface wasn't very noticeable.
It wasn't until Monday that crews noticed the newly cleaned concrete surface and portions of remaining paint were so bright that it gave the appearance of looking exactly like the new pavement markings.
DOT said they worked Tuesday night into Wednesday morning to correct the appearance. Crews added additional coats of paint to the new markings to make them brighter, and they also did additional milling in the location of the old markings. DOT said over time, the contrast between old and new surfaces will dull, as the road gets exposed to the elements.
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