Bangor City Officials Asking Motorists To Avoid Fresh Road Paint

While we know all the road construction and paving taking place throughout the state of Maine may seem like a giant pain to motorists sometimes, it is ultimately being done for the greater good, to make roadways safer for those who travel them.

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And while a lot has been said in recent years about slowing down in work zones and around road work crews, and giving them a wide berth, it's not just for safety's sake that they want you to give them space.

a yellow painted road

In the case of roadways in Bangor, city officials say it's because when it comes to painting those traffic lines, they need you to steer clear of the wet paint. After several recent instances of people driving through the newly painted lines, they have even issued a public statement about it.

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According to the City of Bangor website, officials are asking drivers to do their best to safely avoid tailgating paint trucks or driving through sections that paint crews have just laid down.

background pattern

They say not only does this create confusion and a mess on the road surface, but it's also difficult, expensive, and time-consuming to fix.

"Motorists are asked to please slow down and watch for painting crews, orange cones, signs, barriers, and flaggers. Do not drive through any fresh paint — stay in open lanes or use alternate routes when possible. Maintain a safe following distance behind the paint truck. Also, be patient if a short, temporary delay is needed while lines are being applied. "

The City goes on to explain that the paint dries quickly, usually in just a few minutes, so a little patience and some thoughtful maneuvering are helpful when traversing freshly painted roads.

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They also mention that most of the line-painting work is usually done in the evenings, after 7 PM, when the number of cars on the roadway is fewer than during the day.

a close up of a truck tire on a wet road

The plan is to continue with the line painting through the next few weeks, in roads throughout the city, so they ask that folks be prepared for some roads to have temporary closures or detours while the work is being done.

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Cooper Hogan, owner of local company Midnight Customs & Detailing in Hermon, says if paint does get on your vehicle, it's not a fun process to get that off.

a yellow car parked on the side of a road

"It’s not fun! Takes a lot of time, and sometimes doing an insurance claim is the best thing, honestly, depending on how bad it is, because for us to do it and do it correctly, it will cost more money...People think, " Oh, it’s just paint"... yea, it’s paint that stays on the road for years being driven on, plowed on, salted on, and so on."

If you'd like more information on the painting jobs scheduled to take place, you can call the Public Works Department. Their phone number is (207) 992-4500.