Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent announced this week that the city expects to implement a contract to refresh the crosswalk markings in the city’s school zones.

“Student safety is of paramount importance to the city and this contract will enable the city to apply new crosswalk markings at every Bremerton school,” Lent said. “Refreshing the markings will make it easier for drivers to see the crosswalk locations, especially during the winter months.”

The contract’s initial focus is to refresh the crosswalks in the city’s school zones. After that, the contractor will provide additional street markings as directed by the city’s Public Works Department.

The contract takes advantage of newer technology using a “hot applied” product rather than the more traditional (and expensive) thermoplastic “melt-down” material. This is a pilot project for the Public Works Department and promises to save taxpayer money. For comparison, the city’s cost for the thermoplastic melt-down material alone, not including the labor expense to apply it, is more than double the square footage price provided by this contract.

The City contacted 69 potential bidders. The low bid, $73,405, was from Stripe Rite, Inc. of Bremerton.

“We look forward to our partnership with Stripe Rite on this important work,” said Public Works Director Chal Martin. “Stripe Rite has already done great work for the city as a subcontractor on several other street projects. I would also like to credit Mr. Robert Parker for his suggestion to look into this technology. Performing this work by contract will free up hours for our in-house street crew to focus more on other critical street maintenance tasks that only we can do.”

The city council is expected to vote on the contract at its May 15 meeting.