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A global shortage of the raw materials used to produce acrylic waterborne pavement marking paints is adversely affecting the Iowa Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) ability to paint and repaint center lines and edge lines on roadways and at airports.

Typically, the IDOT repaints center lines and edge lines for all 9,400 miles of the primary road system each year, while airports are repainted every four years if needed.

The shortage of titanium dioxide and methyl methacrylate has resulted in unprecedented delays in and increased costs of the production of the paint. Manufacturers are operating below past production levels, and China recently discontinued exporting titanium dioxide to North America because the chemical was needed for its domestic market, according to the IDOT.

The effects are just now being felt in Iowa. Based on the IDOT’s efforts to restock its paint inventory, shipments of the paint are being delayed and in some cases the paint is simply unavailable.

Painting will be performed only where it is most needed, the IDOT said. It is also identifying alternative materials that can be used for temporary pavement marking, developing contingency plans for painting new and existing roads, assessing its contract bidding requirements and evaluating contracts that are out for bid or scheduled to be bid in the coming months.