Use of Barriers in Rural Open Road Conditions--A Synthesis Study [Technical Summary]

Details

• Creators:
  Chen, Erdong ; Brown, Jennifer ; Tarko, Andrew
• Corporate Creators:
  Purdue University. Joint Transportation Research Program
• Corporate Contributors:
  Indiana Department of Transportation ; United States. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Barriers (Roads)
  • Medians
  • Median barriers
  • Roads
  • Parts of roads
  • Clear zones
  • Right of way (Traffic)
  • Roadside structures
  • Bridge substructures
  • Highway design
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/IN/JTRP-2012/08
• Resource Type:
  Brief
• Geographical Coverage:
  Indiana
• Edition:
  Technical summary.
• Corporate Publisher:
  Purdue University. Joint Transportation Research Program
• Description:
  Although sufficiently wide medians and clear zones improve roadside safety, the AASHTO Design Policy allows for the use of barriers under restricted conditions. Recent experience with Indiana’s I-69 corridor challenges the current design practice with regard to medians and clear zones in rural areas. Significant savings could be realized by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) if the medians and clear zones on new and reconstructed facilities were narrower than prompted by the current design standards. Modern protective devices, such as high-tensioned cable barriers, offer protection with a lower risk of vehicle damage and personal injury than do traditional concrete barriers and guardrails. Although the increased cost of right of way (ROW) is the primary reason for this synthesis study, rapidly growing personal injury medical costs must also be considered. The practice of making investments in road infrastructure is based on benefit-cost analysis, which includes both ROW and medical costs.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  SPR-3550
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/25005/dot_25005_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 776.40 KB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:4da71fd122b4ca19f645040fb00c285a7c0e69a30403640794e619d9c79da768