Road surface marking is any kind of device or material that is used on a road surface in order to convey official information; they are commonly placed with road marking machines. They can also be applied in other facilities used by vehicles to mark parking spaces or designate areas for other uses. In some countries and areas, road markings are conceived as horizontal traffic signs, as opposed to vertical traffic signs placed on posts.
Variety of surface markings on a road in Luxembourg
The cat's eye, showing the iron base, rubber housing and lenses
White raised pavement marker near "pea-structure" side-line on highway surface
Typical dash marks in the middle of the lane after dowel bar retrofit roadwork
A road surface or pavement is the durable surface material laid down on an area intended to sustain vehicular or foot traffic, such as a road or walkway. In the past, gravel road surfaces, macadam, hoggin, cobblestone and granite setts were extensively used, but these have mostly been replaced by asphalt or concrete laid on a compacted base course. Asphalt mixtures have been used in pavement construction since the beginning of the 20th century and are of two types: metalled (hard-surfaced) and unmetalled roads. Metalled roadways are made to sustain vehicular load and so are usually made on frequently used roads. Unmetalled roads, also known as gravel roads or dirt roads, are rough and can sustain less weight. Road surfaces are frequently marked to guide traffic.
A road being resurfaced using a road roller
Red surfacing for a bicycle lane in the Netherlands
Construction crew laying down asphalt over fiber-optic trench, in New York City
Old Roman road, leading from Jerusalem to Beit Gubrin, adjacent to regional highway 375 in Israel