ULTRAGUARDโข in Lithuania: French Innovation Put to the Test in Baltic Winter Conditions
Improving the visibility of road safety barriers, particularly at night and in challenging weather conditions, is the objective of ULTRAGUARD™, the innovative retroreflective coating solution developed and marketed by SOLOSAR. The technology is currently being evaluated on Lithuania's A1 motorway, in cooperation with the national road infrastructure operator, Via Lietuva.
A First in the Baltic States
On the A1 motorway near Kaunas, Via Lietuva has chosen to test ULTRAGUARD™ to improve the visibility of vehicle restraint systems and help drivers better anticipate the road alignment.
The technology combines a specially formulated coating with glass beads, transforming conventional steel safety barriers into retroreflective surfaces that return light from vehicle headlights towards approaching drivers.
The principle is straightforward: make existing road safety barriers more visible and improve visual guidance, particularly on bends, at night, in rainy conditions or when visibility is reduced.
More than 1.8 kilometres of safety barriers have been treated as part of this pilot project.
Encouraging Results After a Harsh Baltic Winter
Lithuania's climate provides a particularly demanding environment for road infrastructure, with freezing temperatures, snow, moisture and intensive winter maintenance operations.
Following a complete winter season, feedback from Via Lietuva has been positive regarding both the visual effect and the behaviour of the ULTRAGUARD™ coating.
These initial observations are encouraging and support further technical evaluation under real operating conditions.
Taking the Next Step: Objective Performance Measurement
Beyond the successful implementation of the pilot project, SOLOSAR is working with its Lithuanian partners to develop a reliable and repeatable methodology for measuring retroreflectivity on vertical road safety surfaces.
Initial field measurements have already been carried out using a retroreflectometer equipped with a dedicated adaptor.
The next stage involves technical discussions with a specialised laboratory to establish an appropriate measurement methodology, covering measurement geometry, calibration, repeatability, reproducibility and measurement uncertainty.
The objective is to establish a scientifically robust and recognised approach to evaluating vertical retroreflectivity, providing a sound technical basis for future performance monitoring and potentially wider deployment.
Discover the Project in Video
Via Lietuva has published a video presenting the ULTRAGUARD™ pilot project on the A1 motorway near Kaunas.
The footage illustrates how retroreflective safety barriers can contribute to improved road delineation and visibility for drivers.
This international project highlights SOLOSAR's commitment to innovation, technical expertise and road safety, building on more than 45 years of experience supporting infrastructure professionals.
What About Your Road Infrastructure?
Motorways, regional roads, bridges and road sections requiring improved visual guidance: ULTRAGUARD™ offers an innovative solution that can be assessed according to the specific requirements of each infrastructure project.
Whether you are a road authority, infrastructure operator, engineering consultant or road construction contractor, SOLOSAR provides technical support from the initial assessment through to project implementation.
Interested in ULTRAGUARD™ for your road network?
Contact our team to discuss your project, request technical information or explore potential applications.