In 2021, the Municipality of La Unión, located in Chile’s Los Ríos Region, launched a road safety initiative focused on improving pedestrian visibility at several busy intersections. The project aimed to reduce accident risk in high-traffic zones by installing new, highly visible zebra crossings using durable thermoplastic road marking paint.
A total of 115 square meters of markings were planned across four intersections, with two of the key locations being:
The initiative was part of the city’s broader efforts to modernize road infrastructure with more durable, reflective, and long-lasting materials.
Thermoplastic road marking paint has become the material of choice for municipal safety upgrades in Chile due to its proven durability, excellent retroreflectivity, and resistance to wear. Unlike traditional cold-applied paint, thermoplastic fuses to the pavement surface when heated, providing stronger adhesion and longer service life under traffic and weather stress.
The La Unión project followed national guidelines outlined in Chile’s Manual de Señalización de Tránsito, Chapter 3, which recommends the use of thermoplastic for critical pedestrian areas. The markings were required to include high-reflectivity glass beads embedded into the surface to enhance visibility at night and in wet conditions.
The selected intersections served as key pedestrian crossings, especially during school hours and peak traffic periods. The layout included:
All markings were designed to withstand local weather and traffic conditions, which can vary significantly across seasons in southern Chile.
The project was delivered using BOLE's thermoplastic road marking paint, supplied directly to the contractor responsible for application. While the official municipal tender did not disclose a brand name—as is standard in Chilean public procurement—the municipality and contractor selected BOLE due to its reputation for high-quality materials, export readiness, and compliance with Chilean safety standards.
The paint used was a white, high-reflectivity thermoplastic formulation, embedded with glass beads and optimized for 2.0 mm thickness application. The markings were applied using professional road marking equipment to ensure clean edges, uniform thickness, and consistent performance.
Following installation, the zebra crossings demonstrated:
BOLE offers thermoplastic road marking paint that fully complies with Chile’s Manual de Señalización requirements. With precise control over formula composition, BOLE can customize:
Our team has supported numerous projects across Latin America, offering not only certified paint products but also:
Whether you're working on a 100 m² crosswalk or a full municipal road plan, BOLE delivers products and services that meet public-sector demands at competitive prices.
The La Unión case shows that even smaller cities are taking proactive steps to improve long-term road safety through quality infrastructure investment. By choosing thermoplastic road marking paint—and working with reliable suppliers like BOLE—municipalities can enhance pedestrian protection, reduce maintenance cycles, and ensure compliance with national safety standards.
BOLE is proud to contribute to smarter, safer roads across Chile and beyond.
