Wire (cheese cutter) barriers

[fliplid]

Getting around on the roads surrounding Auckland, I've been noticing that quite a few lengths of the metal barriers have been fitted with the coach bolts, but with the nut side towards the traffic- meaning that there is a considerable length of excess thread protruding... Is this actually a recognised form of construction- or has some crew got a bit sloppy? Gives the impression that it would act like a saw if you slide down it! I'll try get some piccies and post them up.

[Conquiztador]

Getting around on the roads surrounding Auckland, I've been noticing that quite a few lengths of the metal barriers have been fitted with the coach bolts, but with the nut side towards the traffic- meaning that there is a considerable length of excess thread protruding... Is this actually a recognised form of construction- or has some crew got a bit sloppy? Gives the impression that it would act like a saw if you slide down it! I'll try get some piccies and post them up.

Outchhhh!!! I can feel the bolts cutting in to my leg!!! I cringe!

[motorbyclist]

they probably do it that way cause it's easier, and therefore cheaper

i mean, safety clearly was never a real consideration or the barriers wouldn't be here in the first place

[swbarnett]

Getting around on the roads surrounding Auckland, I've been noticing that quite a few lengths of the metal barriers have been fitted with the coach bolts, but with the nut side towards the traffic- meaning that there is a considerable length of excess thread protruding... Is this actually a recognised form of construction- or has some crew got a bit sloppy? Gives the impression that it would act like a saw if you slide down it! I'll try get some piccies and post them up.

I saw them putting up new armco barriers leading to the Tristram Ave. overbridge today. The bolts were definately head side to the road. Someone's getting very sloppy. Write in to transit with location and pictures. This cannot be tolerated!

[Sanx]

Looks like they're going to be going down the new bit of SH20 they're building too. On the left-hand side of the lane. Cables not up, but the posts look awful familar.

[Max Preload]

Getting around on the roads surrounding Auckland, I've been noticing that quite a few lengths of the metal barriers have been fitted with the coach bolts, but with the nut side towards the traffic

What roads? That's outrageous - they'd do some serious damage just walking past & catching your leg on them, much less getting shunted onto them on a bike by an errant cage pilot who never checked his blind spot before converging on your lane!

[El Dopa]

Getting around on the roads surrounding Auckland, I've been noticing that quite a few lengths of the metal barriers have been fitted with the coach bolts, but with the nut side towards the traffic- meaning that there is a considerable length of excess thread protruding... Is this actually a recognised form of construction- or has some crew got a bit sloppy? Gives the impression that it would act like a saw if you slide down it! I'll try get some piccies and post them up.

The one formal study that I have read about different crash barriers (Monash Uni. Go on their website and search for 'brifen') noted that one of the biggest problems with wire rope barriers was when they were not installed up to the relevant standard.

It's not a particularly leftfield jump of logic from that starting point to assume that there may be installation problems with all types of barrier, especially given this story in the paper yesterday.

If no-one bothers to point out to the road crew that the boltheads need to be flush on the road side of the barrier, then its exactly the sort of idiot mistake that can easily get made.

I also have a vague recollection that some of the armco at Pukekohe might have been installed like this. There was a thread about it a couple of years ago. If it's being installed like that on a track, the chances ot getting installed correctly on the road are effectively zero.

[fliplid]

So, it's still a case of "cheap is good"?! If not, just bodge it to keep it easier!

[WelshWizard]

If you want to read the Micky mouse report done by Transit NZ in Nov 2006 go here and view as a PDF
http://www.transportation.org/sites/...ber%202006.pdf
Seems they have taken certain data out of the report to make the wire barriers fit their case for them, and they have always known they killed motorcyclists

[Hitcher]

Out of curiosity, I measured the lengths of the new cheesecutter on Centennial Highway to see how long the cables spanned between anchor points. Both new stretches are about 1.5km long, and a completely different spec to the first length on that stretch of road. The first length comprises 4 parallel strands with posts at a smaller gap than upper-pair, pair criss-crossed style on the newer stuff. Anybody who thinks that a significant impact on this stuff is going to stop vehicles moving into the opposite lanes is delusional.

[Deano]

Out of curiosity, I measured the lengths of the new cheesecutter on Centennial Highway to see how long the cables spanned between anchor points. Both new stretches are about 1.5km long, and a completely different spec to the first length on that stretch of road. The first length comprises 4 parallel strands with posts at a smaller gap than upper-pair, pair criss-crossed style on the newer stuff. Anybody who thinks that a significant impact on this stuff is going to stop vehicles moving into the opposite lanes is delusional.

Give the gubbmint an inch..........these things will be everywhere very shortly.

What was actually so wrong with the armco into Wgtn from the Hutt that it is being replaced with the garrot.(sp)

[Max Preload]

Out of curiosity, I measured the lengths of the new cheesecutter on Centennial Highway to see how long the cables spanned between anchor points. Both new stretches are about 1.5km long, and a completely different spec to the first length on that stretch of road. The first length comprises 4 parallel strands with posts at a smaller gap than upper-pair, pair criss-crossed style on the newer stuff. Anybody who thinks that a significant impact on this stuff is going to stop vehicles moving into the opposite lanes is delusional.

So it's 1.5km between anchor blocks? I find that difficult to believe. Unless I don't.

[Hitcher]

So it's 1.5km between anchor blocks? I find that difficult to believe. Unless I don't.

You're welcome to measure those distances yourself. The stretch up the Haywards Hill is closer to 2km between anchor blocks.

[Max Preload]

You're welcome to measure those distances yourself. The stretch up the Haywards Hill is closer to 2km between anchor blocks.

I believe you. Sure is pretty pointless - what %age elongation is that to put a vehicle completely on the wrong side of the road then? I calculate 0.00013% (200mm stretch over 1500m) but that's assuming the entire length of cable is dislodged from the posts.

How many actually come away on collision?

Regardless, it's going to do nothing for trucks...

[Hitcher]

I believe you. Sure is pretty pointless - what %age elongation is that to put a vehicle completely on the wrong side of the road then? I calculate 0.00013% (200mm stretch over 1500m) but that's assuming the entire length of cable is dislodged from the posts.

The Centennial Highway stretch of cheesecutter runs around several corners -- that road is quite windy -- so even relatively short disruption (say over 100m) would create more than enough slack to allow an impacting vehicle to travel completely across the opposite lane.

The grim reality is that cheesecutter is intended to be nothing more than a "psychological" barrier. It's cheap, easy to erect, but otherwise useless/lethal. Traffic planners probably believe that by sanctioning its use they can't then be attacked for not doing anything on "problem" stretches of road.