INVESTMENT IN FLEXIBLE MEDIAN BARRIER PAYS DIVIDENDS
THAT THE RICHMOND-PETERSBURG TURNPIKE IN VIRGINIA HAD THE LOWEST FATALITY RATE OF ANY MAJOR TOLL ROAD IN THE COUNTRY IN 1968 IS NOT ENTIRELY A MATTER OF CHANCE. CREDIT MUST BE GIVEN TO THE PRESENCE OF A STEEL BOX BEAM MEDIAN BARRIER-ONE THAT GIVES ON IMPACT ALONG 23 OF ITS 35 MILES OF FOUR AND SIX-LANE ROADWAY. THE REMAINING 12 MILES OF MEDIAN BARRIER IS BEING INSTALLED AT THIS TIME AND WHEN COMPLETED, THE 35-MILE SECTION MAY BE THE NATION'S LONGEST SINGLE SPAN OF ITS TYPE. THE BARRIER IS OF STRONG-BEAM, WEAK-POST DESIGN. IT CONSISTS OF GALVANIZED STRUCTURAL STEEL TUBES BOLTED TOGETHER TO FORM A CONTINUOUS BEAM. THE TUBING, WHICH IS SLOTTED ON THE UNDER SIDE, FITS OVER FLAT TAPERED PADDLES WELDED TO THE TOPS OF THE POSTS. WHEN STRUCK, THE BOX BEAM MOVES AND CAUSES THE POSTS TO BEND WHILE THE BEAM REMAINS INTACT. THIS CUSHIONS THE SHOCK OF INPACT AND REDIRECTS THE VEHICLE IN A FORWARD PATH, PARALLEL TO THE BARRIER. SINCE ALL ELEMENTS OF THE BARRIER ARE GALVANIZED STEEL, THEY ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE A LONG, MAINTENANCE FREE LIFE. IN INSTANCES WHERE THE RAIL IS STRUCK AND MUST BE REPAIRED, THE WORK GENERALLY CONSISTS OF SIMPLY LIFTING THE STEEL BOX BEAMS OFF THE POSTS, STRAIGHTENING OR REPLACING THE POSTS, SETTING THE BOX BEAMS BACK IN PLACE AND SPLICING. /AUTHOR/
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1606878
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Supplemental Notes:
- Vol 100, No 7, PP 100-101
- Publication Date: 1969-7
Media Info
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Serial:
- Public Works
- Publisher: Hanley Wood
- ISSN: 0033-3840
- Serial URL: http://www.pwmag.com
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Box beams; Design; Fatalities; Flexibility; Maintenance; Median barriers; Reduction (Chemistry); Shock absorbers; Tubing
- Old TRIS Terms: Flexible tubing; Reduction
- Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00220538
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Sep 29 1994 12:00AM