Wire rope barrier monitoring system (load cell communication) – an overview

Application of median wire rope safety barrier overseas had resulted in a reported 80% reduction in cross centre line casualty crashes. The key objective of the treatment is to prevent fatalities and serious injuries as a result of head-on crashes and other cross centre line crashes, consistent with South Australia’s Road Safety Strategy – Towards Zero Together and Safe System principles. However, use of flexible barrier in a narrow median raises issues with maintenance monitoring and safety of operational staff when a repair is required. Victor Harbor Road was chosen for median wire rope barrier installation as it had experienced a number of serious and fatal crashes due to vehicles crossing the centre line. This was the first targeted application of installing median wire rope safety barrier on a four-lane (2+2) 100
km/h road in South Australia. This project involved the installation of 2.3 km of wire rope safety barrier along the centre of the Willunga Hill four-lane carriageway section of Victor Harbor Road. Maintenance requirements were assessed from a routine visual and structural inspection viewpoint to ensure the treatment remains effective. Due to the traffic flow and speed environment it was decided to supplement the median wire rope barrier with an innovative remote tension and impact monitoring system. This real-time notification feature is an Australian first and provides improved safety through minimising physical site visits, as well as improved response times to a potential failure of the barrier in the event of heavy impact.