Drivers along the Interstate 15 corridor between Ogden and Provo will see a big difference in the road in the coming months — literally.

After reportedly receiving positive reviews from its testing efforts, the Utah Department of Transportation is applying high-visibility “tiger tail” striping throughout Summit, Tooele, Salt Lake, Davis, Weber and Box Elder counties.

In an email to the Standard-Examiner, Mitch Shaw, UDOT senior communications manager, said the work is continuation of a project that began last year.

“UDOT initially funded a striping project for $26 million, with work beginning on that in 2023,” he said. “That project included areas in just Utah County, Salt Lake County, Tooele, Summit, and Davis counties. So part of that project is still ongoing, but last year, the Utah Legislature also allocated $6 million per year toward lane striping efforts and that money will be used on striping projects going forward. Crews are nearly done placing this new striping on I-15 from Brigham City to Ogden, and work is scheduled to start in Sardine Canyon on (state Route 91). UDOT also plans on installing the new lane striping in Davis, Tooele and Summit counties on sections of I-15, I-215, I-80 and SR-201 through the end of the year.”

Shaw said that tiger tail striping has been well-received where it has been implemented.

“It’s a form of ‘contrast striping,’ which includes a white line followed by a black line,” he said. “This more clearly distinguishes the striping from the lighter colored concrete. The new special adhesive tape, known as ‘tiger tail’ striping, is embedded in the road, so it can’t be scraped up by snow plows as easily. It’s also reflective. Motorists have commented to us that this type of striping has greatly increased visibility.”

Shaw said this contrasts with more traditional striping methods that have had trouble withstanding Utah’s climate.

“Even though UDOT crews continually work to maintain lane markings, weather and snow plowing are hard on reflective markings,” he said. “Utah’s lane striping sees problems from extreme wear through salt in the winter and extreme heat in the summer.”

Shaw did not have an exact time frame on when striping projects will be finished other than that the projects will continue through the remainder of 2024.

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