Citation

Lisle FN, Hargroves BT. Transp. Res. Rec. 1980; 769: 30-37.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1980, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

An evaluation of the portable precast concrete traffic barrier as a device for separating high-speed vehicle traffic and construction activities is presented. The evaluation included (a) a review of the literature on the performance of concrete "safety shape" barriers and (b) an examination of traffic operations and safety characteristics in a construction zone where the portable barriers were used. The literature review revealed that in using the barrier (a) the end of the barrier should never be exposed to oncoming traffic; (b) the barrier joints must be tight for the barriers to act as a system; (c) the longitudinal axis of the barriers should be placed parallel to the roadway, except when the barrier system is started with a flare; and (d) the barrier system must have lateral support to prevent vehicle penetration. For conditins at the study site, it was found that (a) there was an average of 49 vehicle contacts with the barrier for every reported accident in which the barrier was involved; (b) there was a definite tendency for motorists to stay out of the barrier lane, but avoidance of the barrier lane decreased as volume increased; and (c) with an 88-km/h (55-mile/h) posted speed limit, vehicle speeds were reduced only slightly when the barriers were in place.