Development of a Tie-Down System for Temporary Concrete Barriers

2002PDFTech ReportTRP-03-115-02RPFP-01-06Barriers (Roads)TiedownsWork zonesTemporary barriersConcrete barriersConstructionCrash testsDevelopmentEvaluation criteriaHighway safetyLiterature reviewLongitudinal barriersRecommendationsTemporary barriersTest conditionsTest requirementsTie-down strapsWork zonesBielenberg, B. W.Faller, R. K.Reid, J. D.Holloway, J. C.Rohde, J. R.Midwest Roadside Safety FacilityMidwest States Regional Pooled Fund ProgramUS Transportation CollectionDuring construction of highways and bridges, it is common for temporary concrete barriers to be installed near the edge of a roadway or bridge deck during construction. Free-standing temporary barriers placed close to the bridge deck edge pose a major safety hazard to errant vehicles as there is a significant risk for the barrier segments to be propelled off of the bridge. Previous testing of temporary barriers has shown deflections of more than one meter. These large dynamic deflections, in combination with a narrow gap located behind the barriers, would prove sufficient to push the barriers as well as the impacting vehicle off of the bridge deck. In 1998, researchers at the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln were approached to develop a tie-down system for this type of installation. This report details the development and testing of an NCHRP Report 350 compliant tie-down system for use with F-shape temporary concrete barriers.75