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Brick thermoplastic walkways across freshly paved streets in the City of Williamsport have arrived ahead of the start of the Little League World Series Grand Slam Parade and thousands of visitors to the city as they watch the activities and for college students arriving for the fall semester.
The faux brick crosswalks are among the street features that will greet the 40,000 expected spectators and participants in the Grand Slam Parade that rolls down Fourth Street at 5 p.m. on Aug. 18.
However, the faux brick crosswalks are far more than cosmetic in their purpose, and while they look nice, as if they were real brick paths that require far more expensive materials and labor, they also will hold up to the elements and can take a beating, including plowing, chemicals and salt during winter.
"It is a very durable, proven product and will last years," said city engineer Bill Scott.
"Yes, it is sharp, looks great, has a historical fit and is very visible, which is the key point to make -- it is clearly seen for pedestrian safety," Scott noted.
It is a way better deal for the money spent as compared to using real bricks or event stamped concrete, which are both much more expensive to purchase and labor intensive to install, Scott said.
Also, the maintenance of these two options is continuous and costly and they will deteriorate more rapidly than thermoplastic, he said.
That is true, the red brick and white outline can't be mistaken at the intersections.
It's not a common application around here as the subcontractor came all the way from Allentown to install and a question was raised by a reader of the Sun-Gazette about whether it will be damaged by the first pass of a giant snow plow.
No, according to the engineer, who reviewed their design as far back as December, 2025, going over similar questions from the City Council then.
The thermoplastic brick is micro-thin and has not and won't be torn up by snow plows, according to the engineer.
The amazing technology is worth reviewing, as it explains how the process works. It is attached to new surface pavement by first applying a black epoxy and then super heating to seal the grip.
Sand is then thrown on the surface to give grip and friction for those who walk and drive on it so it is not slippery, which was another concern of a reader/viewer.
Thermoplastic brick crosswalks have proven to be durable and effective for other cities, offering a long-lasting solution that enhances pedestrian safety while reducing maintenance costs.
Their ability to mimic traditional brick aesthetics without the associated hazards makes them a popular choice for urban infrastructure.
The objective for the city community development and planning team, and Mayor Derek Slaughter, has been improving pedestrian safety, traffic calming and better more efficient traffic signalization.