Case Study

ASSET VARIOGUARD® SINGLE SIDED SYSTEM

A38 ALREWAS, EAST STAFFORDSHIRE

Road users on the A38 at Alrewas in East Staffordshire are the first to benefit from a new barrier system that will further improve safety in the Highways Agency’s area 11, as the first major site in the country to use the newly designed, narrow foot way, low deflection barrier.

The product has been designed with a narrow-foot profile to accommodate central reserves and verges, where the requirements for set-back and clearance (as specified in IRRRS) cannot be obtained with any other barrier systems.

This new design was chosen to replace 1.3 km of barrier on the A38 at Alrewas to accommodate lighting columns in the central reserve and northbound verge. The barrier is secured to a concrete base at 4m centres, with specially designed high strength stainless steel anchorages.

The central reserve at the site was very narrow and a water main on the route confirmed that a concrete base could not be used. The managing agent contractor working on behalf of the Midlands - Optima - contacted barrier specialist’s ASSET International explaining the engineering and physical restrictions involved. Following close liaison with Optima, ASSET prepared a design for a low deflection barrier, based on their well established product, the double sided ASSET VARIOGUARD®.

Work on the A38 was carried out off-peak during week days, minimising traffic disruption and lane closures. The system was delivered to site in 12 m lengths for ease of delivery and rapid installation.