Seoul City Applies High-Performance Glass Bead Lanes on Olympic-daero for Clear Visibility Even on Rainy Roads

Reflects Headlights Even When Submerged in Rainwater
Targeting Worn Lane Sections on Olympic-daero
One-Year Quality Assessment and Public Satisfaction Survey

The road environment, which threatened the safety of both drivers and pedestrians due to invisible lane markings on rainy nights, will be improved.

On the 20th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will pilot and verify the performance of 'high-performance glass bead lanes' that remain clear even on rainy days on certain sections of Olympic-daero.

Provided by Seoul City

Generally, lane paint contains glass beads mixed in to reflect vehicle headlights and enhance visibility, but the 'high-performance glass bead lanes' use beads twice the size of regular glass beads. In particular, 'rain-type glass beads' that reflect light better are used, ensuring high visibility even when the lane markings are submerged in rainwater.

Seoul plans to pilot the high-performance glass bead lanes on Olympic-daero and verify their performance. Olympic-daero was chosen because it is the longest automobile-only road in Seoul with sufficient vehicle speeds, making it an ideal environment to comprehensively evaluate the performance and durability of lane markings. The specific sections of Olympic-daero for applying the high-performance glass bead lanes will be finalized after investigating the lane repainting and resurfacing sections earlier this year.

Meanwhile, ahead of the full-scale project launch this year, in December last year, Seoul applied the high-performance glass bead lanes first to 1 km sections each on the northbound and southbound sides of Olympic-daero (from Jamsil Bridge to Jamsil Railroad Bridge) where lane repainting was needed. Promotional banners announcing the pilot project have been installed in the completed sections, and guidance messages will be displayed on the Variable Message Signs (VMS) to help drivers easily recognize and experience the improvements.

Han Byung-yong, Director of the Seoul Disaster and Safety Office, said, "Seoul continues to strive to find better technologies to solve the problem of 'faded lane markings on rainy roads' that threaten drivers' safety. We will actively review various lane marking methods and new technologies and work hard to create a safe and clear road environment through continuous communication with experts and related companies."

Provided by Seoul City

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.