| OTIA III State Bridge Delivery |
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| Web Brief (Feb 06) |
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Truck-mounted attenuators increase safety in work zones.
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Increased protection with truck-mounted attenuators
When construction requires lane closures, ODOT must alert motorists to changes in the flow of traffic and protect workers in the closed lanes.
Placing a barrier between traffic and the work zone preserves the safety of both drivers and workers. Unfortunately, not every work site can accommodate a static traffic barrier. ODOT solves this problem by using a mobile traffic-safety barrier called a truck-mounted attenuator.
A TMA is a traffic barrier mounted on a truck bed that can be retracted to a compact, upright position while the truck travels from site to site. On-site, the TMA is positioned in the closed lane, behind the traffic cones that shift motorists to alternate lanes. Most TMAs also have flashing caution signs.
If a collision occurs, the TMA absorbs the energy of the crash, bringing the vehicle to a controlled stop. The TMA’s flexibility means there is less chance of injury to the driver or occupants. The barrier also controls the momentum and direction of the crash and debris, decreasing the chance of a secondary accident or of workers being injured by flying parts.
TMAs greatly contributed to the OTIA III State Bridge Delivery Program’s recently completed Bundle 213 projects. On the northbound and southbound Butte Creek Bridge on Interstate 5, they protected workers pouring concrete and repairing railings. On repairs to the Calapooya River main bridge and overflow structures, on Oregon 34, TMAs protected workers inserting epoxy dowels to reinforce cracks.
The use of TMAs allows ODOT to simultaneously maximize mobility, safety and cost-effectiveness.
##ODOT##
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