As we envision the process of coming up with elements of the stimulus act, we picture smart men and women trying to think of all the potential obstacles to success. But here’s one that we’ll bet they missed when thinking about funding road projects: A shortage of reflective paint for roadways has hit the country.

In West Virginia earlier this month, for example, highway contractors were being told by their suppliers that paint order deliveries, which usually take about four days from order, would take as much as two months to get to the contractors. Early last week, suppliers amended the paint delivery time frame to “whenever they can deliver,” according to Mike Clowser, director of the Contractors Association of West Virginia.

Part of the problem is that lots of paint gets used for every project as portions of road need to be repainted not just at project completion, but many times throughout the project work. Now, however, with production delays for one of the substances in the paint coupled with increased demand caused by stimulus projects, not one drop can be wasted – or the delays will just grow longer.

West Virginia’s Division of Highways didn’t just sit back and wish for paint. It took quick action. On Thursday, June 24th, after meeting with contractors to discuss the situation, the Division of Highways made a couple of very reasonable decisions: Use dashed, rather than continuous outer lane lines if necessary. It also decided to alter the specs on this work to allow contractors to use reflective tape or another kind of temporary reflective paint that isn’t in shortage. The temporary paint, says Clowser, should remain sufficiently bright on the road surface until the stocks of permanent paint are replenished.

Roadway supervisors and maintenance crews will be watching the areas in which temporary paint or tape is being used, especially for heavy traffic and increased wear. “We know the lifespan,” says Brent Walker, a spokesman for the state's Department of Transportation. “In those situations where we can get a little additional life [out of the supplies], we've done that, but we'll never risk safety."

Clearly, this is not an issue spurring many headlines. But we think this is a good example of a state lighting a candle rather than cursing the darkness.

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