Citation

Hirsch TJ, Marquis EL, Nixon JF, Hustace D. Transp. Res. Rec. 1976; 594: 21-25.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1976, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Median barriers are used on high-speed traffic facilities to prevent errant vehicles from crossing a median and conflicting with the opposing traffic stream. A secondary function for some designs of median barriers is to minimize the glare of opposing headlights. The cast-in- place concrete median barrier has proved to be an effective and economical barrier in Texas and other states. Investigation of the use of a precast concrete median barrier (PCMB) steemed from the interest in using a barrier to be prefabricated concurrently with roadway construction. This more effective usage of work force as well as early project conpletion and acceptance could provide measurable potential savings to both the contractor and the state. In addition, when this barrier is installed on existing facilities, the traffic may be disrupted for a considerable period of time if it is case in place. Consequently, PCMB that can be quickly installed on active facilities with a minimum period of traffic disruption is needed. For a precast concrete median barrier to function properly in redirecting vehicles, the relatively short precast sections must be adequately connected after they are placed in the highway median. Engineers of the Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation and the Texas Transportation Institute developed working drawings for precast sections of a PCMB and two connection details. Full-scale crash tests were conducted on the PCMB and connections in order to verify the stability and strength of the installation.