Roadtown; Tortola: Monday, August 18 – The Public Works Department Road Marking Unit has been diligently marking the roads on Tortola with the new Thermoplastic Road Marking Machines. (IOs usually don’t add flavour to the stories unless it is a quote)

Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works Mr. Gary Penn who is the desk officer for that department explained that the thermoplastic machine is an essential part of the unit’s productivity.

The thermoplastic machine, which takes approximately one and a half hours to reach its operational temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit, melts plastic to a liquid which freezes to a brittle, glassy state when cooled.  The material used is sand-like and boils as it comes out the machine in liquid form.  A glass bead additive gives a glow for night time reflection, which makes the markings visible at night when vehicle headlights shine on them. 

Planning Officer in the Public Works Department Ms. Haley Trott said previously, the unit used regular paint with increased lead levels that made the markings road worthy.  However, that method was not durable especially in heavily trafficked areas and the unit would have to re-paint the markings yearly,” Ms. Trott said.

Ms. Trott added that the markings made from the thermoplastic machine lasts approximately ten years, which means the unit can utilise the additional time made available from not having to regularly repaint the markings, to ensure all the roads in the Territory are marked.

The mission of the Public Works Department is to provide a safe, practical, efficient, economically and environmentally sound infrastructure that is well-designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with recognised codes and standards in harmony with the Territory’s social and economic goals.

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