The city of Olathe has installed its first 3D painted crosswalk, which gives the illusion of boxes on the street. Motorists will encounter it if they drive on Cherry Street from Park to Loula streets in the downtown area.
The 3D crosswalks are designed to draw attention to pedestrians who may be crossing the street. Drivers approaching the crosswalk will momentarily see what looks like boxes on the pavement, beginning from roughly 40 to 50 feet away. Pedestrians using the crosswalk see only blobs of colored paint.
The illusion is provided by an old artistic technique called a one-point perspective drawing, said Hallie Sheptor, communications specialist for Olathe Public Works. The technique gives a three-dimensional look on a flat surface.
(Read more: KC Breaking News, Sports & Crime |)