Case Study: Fiberglass Safety Barrier Superior to Steel for Ease of Installation, Corrosion Resistance

0514-Ped Overpass Main0514-Ped Overpass DetailThis Pedestrian Overpass Safety Barrier was fabricated entirely from EXTREN® by Fiberglass Technologies, Bridgewater, New Jersey, and installed on the east ramp of the Holland Tunnel at New York City in one evening without disrupting traffic. Wolf and Carroll Contractors installed the prefabricated safety barrier in seven units (each 8' x 16") without using a crane or other heavy equipment. A steel barrier would have required heavy equipment, disruption of traffic and three days to install.

For the customer, New York/New Jersey Port Authority, halting traffic was a prime consideration as traffic is always heavy in this location and detouring almost impossible. Fiberglass was used not only due to ease of installation, but because fiberglass is corrosion resistant. Automobile exhaust fumes and salt air are a constant corrosion problem in this environment.

TECHNICAL DATA
Product: Pedestrian Safety Barrier
Process: Pultrusion
Materials: EXTREN® Series 525 fiberglass reinforced polyester, fire retardant
Sizes:

  • 3" x 3" x 1/4" Wide flange beam
  • 1-1/2" x 1/4" Round tube
  • 1/4" Plate
  • 1" Plate for logos
For: Joseph T. Ryerson & Son, Inc.
User: New York/New Jersey Port Authority
Fabricator: Fiberglass Technologies

The sides of the safety barrier are conventional fiberglass grating with curved segments cut from EXTREN® plate supported by EXTREN® 3" wide flange beams with one flange section removed. The handrail system is 1-1/2" round tube. The curved flat strips overhead are fabricated from 1/4" plate. New York/New Jersey Port Authority logos etched from 1" EXTREN® plate are mounted on the outside of the barrier. Thirty of these 30" diameter “Bird in Flight Logos,” etched by Ryerson Plastics, a Division of Joseph T. Ryerson & Son, Inc. in Chicago, Illinois, are displayed on this overpass and other outdoor locations throughout New York City.

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