Mitigating localised sand accumulation using wire rope safety barrier

Sand accumulation on highways is an ongoing problem for road authorities in arid areas across the globe. Typical methods to prevent sand accumulation on highways include landscaping, sand fences and desert resistant vegetation; but these incur high construction and maintenance costs. This paper discusses the impact of different road safety barrier types used in areas prone to sand accumulation and provides a case study of the impact of replacing an existing steel W-beam median barrier with a trial section of wire rope barrier. The trial proved to be successful in mitigating localised sand accumulation and is recommended for consideration in desert environments.