Bi-State Metro Link in St. Louis, Missouri, is replacing steel with fiberglass in many areas of its transit system for corrosion resistance and low maintenance. New fabricated windscreens and benches are being added to each of the St. Louis Metro station platforms. The header boards on the windscreens and wing panels have been pultruded in a custom blue color. Having the color throughout the part eliminates painting and prevents unsightly scratches and peeling. The curved benches required a unique fabrication design. Strongwell's experience and expertise in fiberglass fabrication were invaluable in creating the curved design while utilizing the strength of pultruded components.

Working with the fabrication department at Strongwell, Brent Hill, Division Director of Facilities and Right of Way Maintenance for Bi-State, was able to duplicate the look of the steel fabrications and gain the many advantages of fiberglass. The primary advantage was the low maintenance. Fiberglass materials eliminated the expensive yearly painting that was required with the steel fabrications. Other advantages of the new fiberglass windscreens and benches are: impact resistance, ease of cleaning (graffiti can be cleaned off with bleach or a solvent), and nonconductivity (both electrically and thermally).

Bi-State had previously used DURADEK^® 1-6000 1-1/2" fiberglass grating (currently DURAGRID^®) and EXTREN^® fiberglass structurals for handrail and platforms on elevated bridges for emergency access. According to Hill, the fiberglass components have maintained their good looks and they hope to add fiberglass in other areas like sign posts and bus shelters in the future.

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