Historically the Colorado Department of Highways has approved roadside sign material based on data obtained using the weatherometer. While the weatherometer gives some comparative performance data related to UV stability and exposure to moisture, the true performance is best measured under actual field conditions. An outdoor exposure deck was constructed to test sign materials for their field performance and expected longevity. Sample materials were split into three pieces, one for the weatherometer testing, one for the outdoor exposure deck, and one to remain in original condition for later comparison. This report describes the construction of the deck, and the sheeting results after three years of exposure to Colorado weather.
Swareflex wildlife warning reflectors were installed on a four-mile section of road near Denver. Two half-mile test sections were alternately covered and uncovered for a three-month period to see if any significant change in deer-vehicle accidents could be detected. No accidents occurred in the test sections during the evaluation period. The cover/uncover evaluation method proved too costly for the limited budget of this study. Photometric measurements of the reflectors have been made using vehicle headlights as the light source. The use of wildlife warning reflectors should be discontinued until more evidence is available on their effectiveness--especially on mule deer. A regional pooled-fund study should be started to investigate the effect of the reflectors on mule deer. This needs to be a large-scale effort to obtain results in a short period of time and to ensure validity.
