M4 barriers
Page 27
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rrhe new "experimental" 1 crash barriers in the central reservation of the M4 west of Membury have to be seen to be believed. I have not stopped to measure the difference but they appear to be much lower than the usual Armco barrier. They consist of support posts with long lengths of interweaving cable which should give a nice cheesewire effect on impact. The apparently reduced height means that a 38-tonner, and all other vehicles, will be much more likely to cross the reservation in an accident and the idea of steel cable under irresistible load eventually parting and flailing back is also particularly unattractive.
Night vision takes a dip too, as headlights from the opposite carriageway shine through instead of being partially obscured as before.
By "experimental" does the Department of Transport mean they are waiting for a shunt to measure the difference? Or has this already been tested at the Transport Research Laboratory? What are the costs of replacing very long lengths of steel compared to sections of Armco?
[can't imagine it's any cheaper—so what's the game?
Ian Norwell Tingewick, Bucks.