DEVELOPMENT OF AN ECONOMIC MODEL TO COMPARE MEDIAN BARRIER COSTS

New York State specifies concrete safety-shaped barriers in narrow medians on high-volume urban expressways where frequent impact repairs would result in traffic delays and high repair costs if steel barriers were used. Because of the higher initial cost of the concrete barrier, its cost-effectiveness has been questioned. In this paper a model is described that was developed to compare the total costs of concrete safety-shaped barriers and heavy-post blocked-out W-beam median barriers. This model considers construction, repair, and user accident costs, using input values selected from construction and repair cost, and accident data compiled by New York and others. The model was used to determine which barrier system is the best economic choice for various situations. A manual worksheet and computer spreadsheet solutions were developed to permit designers to solve the model for other highway situations and to use alternative values for the input parameters. A sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the effects of the various input parameters on the break-even traffic volume at which the two systems provide equal cost. Because it has a higher initial cost but lower repair cost, the concrete barrier is the more economical at higher traffic volumes.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1987/1133/1133-004.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=DEVELOPMENT+OF+AN+ECONOMIC+MODEL+TO+COMPARE+MEDIAN+BARRIER+COSTS&author=J.+Bryden&author=N.+Bruno&author=J.+Fortuniewicz&publication_year=1987
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Safety Appurtenances. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
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• Authors:
  • Bryden, James E
  • Bruno, Nicholas J
  • Fortuniewicz, Jan S
• Publication Date: 1987

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 23-29
• Monograph Title: ROADSIDE SAFETY FEATURES
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1133
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Construction; Cost effectiveness; Costs; Crashes; Econometric models; Freeways; Median barriers; Repairing; Sensitivity analysis; Traffic delays; Traffic volume; Urban areas
• Uncontrolled Terms: Accident costs; Construction costs; W beams
• Old TRIS Terms: Concrete safety shapes; Repair costs; Urban freeways
• Subject Areas: Construction; Design; Finance; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00469198
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0-309-04512-6
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jun 30 1988 12:00AM