2026 County Road Striping
Pend Oreille County Road Department crews are completing annual pavement striping on designated County roads. Motorists may encounter slow-moving striping equipment, warning vehicles, flashing lights, and freshly applied pavement markings.
Striping is performed as a mobile work zone. Unlike a stationary construction site, the work zone travels along the road with the striping equipment and warning vehicle. Drivers should slow down early, remain alert, and allow the operation enough room to work safely.
What to do when approaching the striping operation
- Slow down and proceed cautiously.
- Watch for workers, warning vehicles, flashing lights, signs, and traffic-control devices.
- Stay behind the chase vehicle at the indicated distance.
- Assume freshly applied pavement markings are still wet.
- Do not drive across fresh paint.
- Do not attempt to drive between vehicles in the striping operation.
- Pass only when it is safe and lawful, with adequate clearance from the equipment and workers.
- Yield to oncoming traffic when passing.
- Obey all instructions from authorized flaggers and workers directing traffic.
Washington law and the moving striping operation
Under RCW 46.61.212, a stationary or slow-moving highway-maintenance vehicle displaying qualifying warning lights establishes a work zone in the adjacent roadway lanes extending 200 feet before and after the vehicle. Because striping is a moving operation, the work zone moves with the equipment.
Drivers approaching the operation must proceed cautiously and reduce speed. When a safe and lawful passing opportunity exists, drivers must provide a safe distance from the maintenance vehicles and yield to oncoming traffic.
If passing or moving away from the maintenance vehicles cannot be done safely, drivers must continue cautiously and reduce their speed to at least 10 mph below the posted speed limit.
RCW 46.61.215 also requires motorists to yield to authorized highway-maintenance vehicles actively working with the required flashing lights.
For an active striping operation, the safest course is to slow down, remain behind the chase vehicle, and stay off the fresh paint.
How long does the paint take to dry?
Pend Oreille County uses waterborne traffic-marking paint. Drying time varies with temperature, humidity, pavement temperature, application rate, and other conditions.
Motorists should not rely on a fixed number of minutes. When approaching or following the striping operation, assume freshly applied pavement markings are still wet. Remain behind the warning vehicle at the indicated distance and avoid crossing fresh lines.
If traffic paint gets on your vehicle
Act promptly. Fresh waterborne traffic paint should be rinsed thoroughly with water before it has an opportunity to cure.
Do not aggressively scrape the vehicle or apply strong solvents that could damage automotive paint, clear coat, plastics, rubber, or other finishes. If the traffic paint has already cured, consider contacting a qualified automotive detailer or body shop before attempting more aggressive removal.
The County cannot guarantee that a particular cleaning method will remove traffic paint without affecting a vehicle’s finish.
Work schedules may change because of weather, equipment availability, roadway conditions, or operational needs.
Thank you for slowing down and giving the crew room to work. A little patience protects workers, keeps paint off vehicles, and helps keep the new pavement markings where they belong—on the road.