TEMPORARY BARRIERS USED IN CONSTRUCTION ZONES

In and around highway construction zones, delineation devices as well as barriers are used to control and restrict the flow of traffic. The need for positive, containing barriers was recognized by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The FHWA further recognized that many temporary barrier devices were being used without documented performance. Accordingly, four temporary barriers were selected for crash test evaluation: (1) 25x25 cm(10"x10") timber barrier; (2) W-beam/barrel barrier; (3) Type X curb; (4) Stacked timber barrier. These barriers were subjected to controlled impacts with full size 2040-kg (4500-lb) cars impacting at angles from 7 to 15 degrees at speeds from 56 km/h (35 mph) to 90 km/h (56 mph). Results indicate the first and third barrier designs had minimal redirection/containment capacity, and performance was judged to be poor. The W-beam/barrel concept performed well during a 72 km/h (45 mph), 15-deg angle impact, but performance was unsatisfactory for 55 mph (88 km/h), 15-deg angle. The stacked timber barrier provided smooth redirection for both 35 mph (56 km/h) and 50 mph (80 km/h) impacts. (FHWA)

• Corporate Authors:

  Southwest Research Institute

  6220 Culebra Road, P.O. Drawer 28510
  San Antonio, TX  United States  78228-0510

  Federal Highway Administration

  Engineering Research and Development Bureau, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Bronstad, M E
  • Kimball Jr, C E
• Publication Date: 1980-12

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 70 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash tests; Crashes; Motor vehicles; Road construction; Road markings; Speed; Testing; Timber; Traffic speed; Work zone traffic control
• Uncontrolled Terms: Redirection; Temporary
• Old TRIS Terms: Barrier types; Traffic marking
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Research; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00335992
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-RD-80- 95 Final Rpt., HS-032 652, FCP 31G1-103
• Contract Numbers: DOT-FH-11-8130
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 28 1982 12:00AM