TxDOT Research Library - TxDOT Research Project

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Development of Low Maintenance Cost Median Barriers with Enhanced Safety Features

What Was the Need?

Typically, rigid median barriers are made of reinforced concrete using safety or single slope profiles. Damaged median barriers typically require lane closures, which result in congestion and additional costs to repair the damaged section. Furthermore, the risk posed to the occupants inside a vehicle that impacts a rigid barrier is more severe than the risk to vehicle occupants impacting a flexible or semi-flexible barrier. The smallest level of flexibility can potentially enhance occupant risk values while reducing damage to the barrier.

What's the Solution?

Researchers developed a new generation of median barriers to maximize the safety performance of the barrier and incorporate low-maintenance cost features in the design that are associated with post-impact maintenance.

Research Benefits

The implementation of this median barrier system will potentially reduce maintenance and repair costs and times, and increase the life cycle of median barrier systems.

Project Number

0-6895

Status

Completed

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