Types of Roadside Safety Railings

Steel & Aluminum

• The most common highway guardrail systems used in the United States are made of hot dipped galvanized steel and aluminum. The w-beam rail is the most widely used safety system on our roads today. W-beams are available with strong-post, weak-post or wood-block cushions.The steel railings can be found in areas that present a higher level of danger, such as the edges of ravines or bodies of water.

High Tension Cable

• In locations where snow drifts are a problem, tension cable guardrails are now used. Unlike solid guard railing, the cable keeps snow from accumulating on the roadways by allowing it to pass through. It also provides some give to impacts received from motor vehicles.

Concrete Barriers

• Concrete barriers can be seen on almost every major highway around the globe. The initial cost is three times that of the galvanized guardrail, but the cement barriers are cost effective because they will last longer.

  There are four main types of concrete barriers on the market:

  The Jersey barrier is 52 inches tall. It rises from a 55-degree angle to an 85-degree tapered top.

  The Ontario barrier is the same as the Jersey, except in being 42 inches tall.

  The constant slope barrier is also 42 inches tall with a slope of 79 degrees.

  The f-shape barrier resembles the Jersey barrier except for the slope.

  These barriers are used for many different applications, including dividing highway traffic and on bridges, closed roadways and water stops.

Temporary Barriers

• Temporary barriers are often used for road construction. They are generally made of heavy hollow plastic and are held in place by being filled with water or sand.

Crash Cushions

• As of 2010, the United States Department of Transportation has begun the approval process for crash cushions. These cushions have been used at race tracks to protect drivers from high-speed impacts.