Though funding is usually the limiting factor in road projects, the current shortage of a chemical is creating a sharp undersupply of the paint used to paint road lines.
The shortage of traffic striping paint is affecting the abilities of departments of transportation to put those final touches on a variety of road projects.
"The timing could scarcely be worse. Spring is when road workers emerge from their winter hibernations, and orange traffic cones pop up like yellow daffodils. In an industry whose favored medium is acrylic on pavement, the paint shortage is gumming up the works.
The Associated General Contractors of America, a major industry trade group, warned state and federal transportation officials last week that the shortage has 'very significant ramifications for completion of highway projects this summer,' and asked them not to penalize contractors and suppliers if they are unable to finish projects on time because of a paint shortage that is beyond their control."
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