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The Signal | Fall 2014
Safer Roads Save Lives
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Trinity Highway Products, LLC — The Vulcan Barrier
When the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development began a nine-month
project to install variable message signs on I-10 in the high-traffic Lake Charles area, it wanted
simple, efficient construction zones throughout the project instead of heavy, difficult-to-maneuver
concrete traffic barriers (CTB). The alternative solution was discovered in the form of the
Vulcan Barrier by Trinity Highway Products, LLC, which is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
The Vulcan Barrier has been tested and approved as a National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP)
Report 350 Test Level 3 and 4 steel longitudinal barrier. (A device with Test Level 3 acceptance has been crash
tested at 100 kmh (62.1 mph) with both a 4400-pound pickup and an 1800-pound car. Test Level 4 acceptance is
applicable to barriers that have been crash tested with a heavy vehicle at 80 kmh (50 mph). Test Level 3 devices
are acceptable for a wide range of high-speed roadways. Test Level 4 devices are applicable to highways with high
volumes of truck traffic or to areas where penetration has serious consequences.)
The Vulcan Barrier can be used in place of the traditional CTB and is versatile and flexible for road work.
The Vulcan Barrier is made of galvanized steel, and its four-meter sections are lightweight and stackable, allowing
for up to 480 feet of Vulcan to be transported on a flatbed trailer. Each section of Vulcan is easily deployed and
positioned with retractable casters and interlinked with a vertical steel pivot pin, which allows the system to follow
curves of up to six degrees per four-meter segment. It is compatible with a variety of crash cushions and end
terminals, which the project required.
“Vulcan was cost-effective versus concrete due to the nature of the project,” said Michael Broussard, project
manager for Diamond Electric Co., Inc., of Baton Rouge. “Diamond may need to reconfigure some of the eight
work zones, and Vulcan is much more adaptable to such movement and transition.”
Another bonus of the Vulcan Barrier compared to CTB is its easier maintenance and redistribution because of the
weight difference. A four-meter section of Vulcan weighs 1,100 pounds compared to a six-meter section of CTB,
which weighs 8,000 pounds.
The Vulcan Barrier is ideal for the short runs of the work zones on Louisiana’s 1-10 project, while its versatility
makes it a popular choice for many other types of applications. In areas that require gated, easy access beyond the
barrier, Vulcan Barrier sections can be reconfigured as simple median gates with the addition of a Vulcan hinge.
The Vulcan Gate can be manually opened in as little as a minute by removing several pins, deploying the casters
and pushing the Vulcan modules out of the way.
For projects requiring traffic lane opening and closing, the Moveable Vulcan Barrier is beneficial. The barrier is
repositioned with the Vulcan Transfer Attachment (VTA) when connected to a skid steer or front end loader.
Using the VTA allows the operator to reposition one mile of Vulcan Barrier, one lane width, in about 20 minutes
from either side of the barrier.
In emergency instances where immediate deployment is required, many DOTs and contractors maintain Vulcan quick
response trailers. Responders can efficiently redirect traffic in cases of rock slides or other types of road closures.
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For information about the Vulcan Barrier by Trinity Highway Products, LLC, visit
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Lindsay Transportation Solutions — The Road Zipper System™
Lindsay Transportation Solutions, headquartered in Omaha, Nebr., features its flagship
products—the Reactive Tension Barrier and The Road Zipper Machine—which, together,
is known as The Road Zipper System
™
. From bridges to tunnels to highways throughout
the world, The Road Zipper System is an innovative way to manage congested highway
systems more efficiently and safely.
The Road Zipper System works with one-meter sections of highly-reinforced concrete barriers pinned together at
each end to form a continuous barrier wall. The barriers have a “T” top that act as a lifting surface for The Road
Zipper Machine. Next, the machine lifts (or drags) the barrier and passes it through a conveyor system. A (patented)
variable length barrier allows for lane curvature and expansion joints. Finally, in one pass, the barrier is
transferred up to 24 feet and sets it down without damaging the road at speeds of up to 10 mph.
Positive Protection,
