Evaluation of a Movable Concrete Barrier System

About the report:

The movable concrete barrier (MCB) system consists of 1-m-long sections of barrier connected by steel pins in hinges to form a barrier wall that is moved laterally with a transport/transfer vehicle. The MCB system allows for the quick closing and opening of a lane for construction work. A 1-km section of barrier can be laterally positioned in about 10 minutes. This system aids in the safe maintenance and reconstruction of highways with minimum inconvenience to the motoring public by limiting lane closures to the non-peak periods. The Virginia Department of Transportation and its contractors used the MCB system on two road-widening projects on I-66 in Fairfax County. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the effectiveness of the MCB system and to develop guidelines for its use. The costs associated with the use of the system along with problems and benefits were examined. The results of the study showed that the MCB system performed adequately in its transfer operations, in redirecting errant vehicles, and in protecting the construction workers. Some general guidelines were developed for using the MCB system. The MCB system should be used on high volume, congested freeways (1) where there is a need for barrier protection and quick opening and closing of lanes or (2) where there is a need for a median barrier that can be quickly shifted.

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