Bush Hammer Rollers have been used to remove traffic line markings for over thirty years. Recent innovations by Floorex Products have led to marked improvements in efficiency and scope of applications. This has led to a much wider adaption in the line marking removal industry.
These innovations have the result of increased bearing and tooling life, making the process more suitable for footpath maintenance as well as erasing traffic lines.
Recently this technology has been applied to removing Audible Traffic Line Markings (ATLM or ATP) with great success. Audible traffic profiles are known by many names, rumble strips, growlers, the corduroy, to name a few, we all know what they are, those bumpy lines on highways that growl as you dare encroach on the edge of the lane.
As these bumps wear down, the problem of removing these bump presents a challenge. Even more of a challenge is posed when the lines need moving, as the bumps are obviously designed to resist significant abrasion and impact without delaminating from the road.
Using the Galaxy 250 fitted with the jockey wheel during operation can assist in making the Galaxy-250 act like a ‘planer’ and easily removes the stubborn thermoplastic markings. Setting the height of the cut means the operator can run the machine at higher revs, with less risk of gouging.
This method is extremely quick, up to 500 meters per hour. Shotblasting or vapor blasting can be very effective, however bush hammers are much faster when it comes to removing the actual rumble strip.
The advantage of using bush hammers over conventional corner grinding is that it leaves the surface structure intact. Grinding however, smooths the surface out, and can lead to shiny areas reflecting light on rainy and dark evenings and mornings. This can create driver confusion and in a worst-case scenario, result in accidents.
The photo below shows the final finish on this New Zealand road. The bush hammering was followed by a single quick pass with a vapor blaster. This removed the last remaining traces of paint without any gouging and minimal ghost lining.
Due to the porous nature of asphalt, getting the last traces of paint from between the aggregate is impossible with grinding or rotary action equipment. Where lines are going to be reapplied, this is of no consequence. However, when lines are being erased or relocated, blasting or blacking out the remaining white fragments is the best solution.
