Concrete barriers are widely recognized for their resilience and strength, dissipating energy upon impact to reduce collision severity and avoid injuries.
Heavy-duty barriers do present certain drawbacks when used temporarily for safety projects, so here are a few reasons to consider plastic water-filled barriers as an alternative:
Durability
Road barriers are essential tools in road construction projects and managing traffic at large events, but choosing the ideal type can be confusing. Plastic barrier options may provide a durable yet cost-effective solution; manufactured using MDPE or LDPE material they’re built to withstand wear-and-tear, harsh environmental conditions and more resistant to cracking than concrete or metal safety barriers.
Plastic road barrier options offer durability as well as ease of installation and reuse, plus lightness that makes transportation and set-up simpler than concrete alternatives. Their vibrant colors also help increase driver visibility and ensure everyone involved in an accident remains safe.
Concrete barriers, on the other hand, require much more effort and time for installation than plastic ones do. Furthermore, their grey appearance doesn’t allow adequate visibility for drivers and doesn’t lessen car accident impact as effectively; unlike plastic barriers they don’t limit impacts from certain collisions either; thus making plastic barriers the superior choice in high speed road environments or permanent installations; that is why traffic management experts often opt for shorter term closures or permanent highway enhancements with plastic barriers as an effective option.
Safety
Plastic road barriers are widely considered safer than concrete alternatives when it comes to safety. Their unique shape and design help minimize impact damage, providing workers with important protection in construction zones. Furthermore, these plastic barriers are easier to move and install; moreover they can connect together seamlessly for greater coverage than traffic cones; making them perfect for use across a range of work sites and events.
Many studies have been undertaken to measure the effectiveness of roadside barriers. One such research conducted a full-scale crash test to analyze how well concrete barriers performed under various vehicle conditions; with collision speeds exceeding 100 km/h and angles below 25 deg for successful performance. Results demonstrated this.
Another study explored the influence of concrete barrier shape on its performance. Researchers tested F-shaped barriers and precast bonds with X-bolts, then compared their models against experimental data to develop a theoretical model to modify car action when hitting one of these structures.
Plastic barriers may be better at reducing vehicle accidents and injuries than concrete ones due to their lower initial cost, easier installation and maintenance processes, lower initial expense and ability to be recycled after their useful life is up – thus saving both money and resources by eliminating the need to purchase replacements.
Cost
Concrete barriers offer a more cost-effective solution for highway safety than plastic ones, offering long-term installation along roadways with durability. Their design absorbs force of impact to limit vehicle damage and minimize injuries sustained during an impact, but require special equipment for installation and transport, making them less suitable for short-term uses such as road closures or managing crowds at events.
Plastic water-filled barriers offer another cost-effective alternative to concrete barriers, typically employed in construction zones to separate workers from traffic. Constructed of high-density polyethylene and filled with water on site to form a cushion against car collisions, they also feature interlocking mechanisms and steel cables to prevent vehicles entering workzones.
Plastic Jersey barriers offer an economical and simple alternative to concrete Jersey barriers, requiring less time and machinery for setup. Being easily transportable and quickly drainable and moveable makes plastic barriers cost-effective in temporary uses such as traffic direction, accident prevention, crowd management or crowd control. They can even be made more visible using bright colours so drivers can better spot them, helping prevent accidents between motorists and pedestrians or accidental collisions altogether, thus decreasing casualties.
Maintenance
Concrete barriers are notoriously heavy, making transportation and movement expensive and time consuming. A six-foot traditional concrete barrier weighs 2,700 pounds, so heavy lifting machinery must be utilized to load, unload and transport it along roadsides. By contrast, an empty plastic barrier weighs only 90 pounds allowing construction teams to quickly deploy them in emergency situations as short-term solutions.
Plastic barriers offer another distinct advantage: they’re easier to spot than concrete ones. Plastic can be manufactured in bright safety orange and come equipped with reflective surfaces for enhanced visibility at distance, helping drivers spot them easily and avoiding collisions on the road. Furthermore, their versatility also makes them useful options at construction sites and events; protecting workers from vehicles while blocking traffic is just another perk of owning plastic barriers!
Finding the appropriate barriers for your next project will ensure maximum safety and efficiency while saving money over time. Both options have their own set of advantages; plastic barriers often prove more cost-effective than concrete ones when protecting work zones or event attendees alike – this explains why more businesses are opting for plastic over concrete barriers.
