Final contract acceptance is a quality-assurance measure that involves inspecting the markings a certain amount of time after all markings have been placed to ensure long-term performance. Retroreflectivity performance-based pavement marking contracts have been used successfully in other states for years as a final acceptance measure. Such contracts are attractive because they shift specifications away from the traditional recipe process to an objective performance process, placing greater responsibility on contractors and manufacturers. In addition, retroreflectivity measurement provides a numeric comparison of how efficiently a marking returns light to the driver’s eyes, thereby reducing the subjectivity that exists when performing nighttime visual evaluations.

Final acceptance for TxDOT pavement marking contracts is usually based on whether the markings meet a specified minimum level of retroreflective performance. Compliance is often determined by a series of retroreflectivity measurements, which are taken a specified number of days after placement of the markings to allow for removal of loosely adhered glass beads. The purpose of using retroreflectivity measurements for final acceptance is to provide a reasonable amount of assurance that newly applied markings will meet or exceed service life expectations.