Concrete barriers have been used in construction for as long as we can remember. They’re strong, durable, and can handle almost anything. However, as technology in traffic safety progresses, new products are developed to make life easier. One of those new technologies that our clients love is steel barriers. Concrete barriers are great and still have their place, but we see increased utilization of steel barriers. Please read below to learn more about how our clients use steel barriers to their advantage. 

Steel Barrier Delivery and Install Speed in contrast to concrete barriers

One of the reasons concrete barriers are so prevalent is their performance. However, the cost to you and your customers can be high for delivery and installation. There are two significant hurdles that the steel barrier solves in that situation.

1. Zoneguard® Steel Barriers can be delivered with up to 750 linear feet on a truck, compared to 90-120 linear feet of concrete barrier. 
2. Because of the lower weight, up to 1500 linear feet of Zoneguard® can be installed per hour. 

We’re all facing tighter deadlines and want to avoid delays in completing projects we worked hard to get. You can cut downtime and costs concerning delivery and installation with steel barrier products. 

Moveable Steel Barriers compared to concrete barriers

More complex projects like bridge revitalization or lane expansions require constant moving and redirecting traffic. That’ll force you to move concrete barriers frequently. This is no easy task, nor is it fast, and luckily, Vulcan® moveable barriers exist. The Vulcan® moveable barrier is a steel barrier that is constructed of galvanized steel segments. 

The most significant saving with the Vulcan® barrier is time. In congested areas, you might have limited opportunities to make your changes. The Vulcan® moveable barrier is relocated with the Vulcan® transfer attachment for a skid steer. This gives you the unique ability to move one mile of barrier in around 20 minutes! The attachment allows operation for either side of the barrier and doesn’t require much to operate efficiently. The savings in time and cost are massive compared to moving concrete barriers. 

Another product that many find advantageous is the Vulcan® gate. Vulcan® gate can be installed between steel barriers and allows open and closure without any equipment. A standard feature includes wheels and jacks so that crews can open and close quickly. 

Steel Barrier versus concrete barrier safety

Concrete barriers are widely used because their safety impacts are understood. With the pace of technology improvement in traffic safety, steel barriers are engineered with safety at the forefront. The Zoneguard® steel barrier has been extensively tested and has been accepted by the FHWA as meeting NCHRP 350 TL-3 and TL-4 and MASH TL-3. Because of Zoneguard®’s rigid cross-section and low center of gravity, impact deflections are comparable to heavier temporary concrete barriers.

The Vulcan® Moveable barrier is tested to NCHRP Report 350 TL-3 and TL-4, and EN1317 H2 and N2 specifications. 

We only rent steel barrier products with the safety requirements and certifications needed for proper operations. This way, the liability for installations is removed from you and the requirements to have specialized training in your labor force. 

Concrete Barrier weight compared to Steel Barrier weight

The weight of concrete barriers is significant, and this not only affects your transportation and setup requirements but it also affects how it can be used on your project. There are large concerns with the equipment weight on the bridge during construction for many bridge revitalization projects. Concrete barriers can push you over the weight limits, and steel barriers can be the solution. Steel barriers also require minimum pinning, making them easy to work with. 

End treatments for Steel Barriers and Concrete Barriers 

Steel barriers offer the ability to connect to a wide array of end treatments. Different projects will have other demands, and when discussing the right end treatment, contact us to find out what’s right for you. We offer the below end treatments. 

• TREND® 350 Tangent
• TrafFix SLED
• Delta™ Crash Cushion
• QuadGuard® II
• Absorb 350
• Absorb M
• ACZ 350
• QuadGuard®
• QuadGuard® Elite
• QuadGuard® High Speed (HS)

In summary, you can see the same advantages that our clients see when it comes to using steel barriers versus concrete barriers. Yes, concrete barriers still have their place, but most of our customers appreciated the differences that steel barriers offer. Contact us today to learn more and see if steel barrier products are right for your next project.