Development of Low-Maintenance Cost Median Barriers with Enhanced Safety Features [Summary]

20182-28-2018Odell, WadePDFBrief0-6895-PSRBarriers (Roads)Divided highwaysImpact testsLane closureMedian barriersSafetySimulationUnited StatesTexas A&M Transportation InstituteAbu-Odeh, Akram Y.Brackin, Michael S.Kovar, JimSchulz, Nathan D.Ferron, Raissa DouglasRung, MichaelAhsan, SanjidaTexas A&M Transportation InstituteUniversity of Texas at Austin. Center for Transportation ResearchTexas. Dept. of Transportation. Research and Technology Implementation OfficeUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUS Transportation CollectionMedian barriers separate opposing traffic lanes on divided highways. 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. Researchers at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute and the Center for Transportation Research at the University of Texas 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.78