The mid-block crossing between the 1026 Roanoke Avenue urban greenspace and Halifax County Arts Council received its pavement markings today.

Geveko Markings, a global pavement marking company, applied the decorative pavement markings at no cost to the state Department of Transportation, said Michael Brown product manager for the Suwanee, Georgia-based company. The aim is to demonstrate the product to the state and get DOT approval as a pavement marking contractor.

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Laura Clark, president of the company, said Geveko started in 1924 as an asphalt company. Its products are used on roads across the country as well as more than 80 countries.

This is the first time the company’s free-form thermoplastic pavement markings have been used in DOT’s Division 4, said Mark Manriquez, assistant division traffic engineer.

Clark said many communities want to put in more decorative crosswalks. “This is going to look like bricks.”

She said the markings have skid-resistant material and its sides have reflective materials.

The mid-block crossings are not a new idea, Manriquez said. They can be seen in Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Greensboro as well as other communities. “It’s safer and it appeals to the eye.”

Roanoke Rapids Main Street Development Director Christina Caudle watched as the decorative marking was installed. “I’m thrilled they’re doing this. This is unique.”

While Geveko provided and installed the decorative markings at no charge to the state — Roanoke Avenue-Highway 48 is a state road — Caudle said the mid-block crossing was paid for from a mix of federal, state and local funds and was part of the avenue streetscape master plan.