Types of Roadside Railing

Roadside railings are put up for safety along automobile roadways, from rural highways to freeways, and can withstand the impact of an automobile accident. These railings are engineered to keep automobiles from steering off the road and into oncoming traffic, preventing head-on collisions. Roadside railings also keep automobiles from crashing into dangerous objects on the other side of these rails, from billboards to trees to construction sites and more.

Cable Barrier Railings

• Cable barrier road railings are made with posts and have metal cables connected to the wooden or metal posts. These types of roadside railings are inexpensive and relatively easy to build. Cable barriers are being used in the state of Washington, for example, and are replacing other barrier types due to their increased safety standards. Cable barriers can come in three-cables or four-cables in height and can withstand an oncoming car due to its malleability, bouncing a car back versus taking on the full impact of the automobile.

Wood Post/Wood Guardrail Roadside Railings

• Wood post or wood guardrail roadside railings consist of wooden posts in the ground holding long wooden guardrails. These types of guardrails can be a more aesthetically pleasing alternative to steel railings. Wooden guardrail systems are easy to install and provide a standard of safety similar to the steel railings. Wooden guardrails can be easier to fix and replace since smaller areas can be repaired at one time with similar types of wood and hardware.

Steel Box Beam Railings

• Steel box beam railings are preferred by many states in the U.S. because of their safety ratings. The steel beam that stems across the posts as the railing is box-shaped, made by a coil of manufactured steel. Because it is made of steel, these railings have significant durability upon impact of automobiles. Steel, however, is an expensive metal and therefore expensive to replace; at the same time, due to its durability, these steel box beam railings are less likely to be destroyed.

Concrete Barrier Railings

• Concrete barrier railings are made entirely of concrete and are placed in high traffic areas like highways and freeways. There are different types of concrete railings, including K-rail, which is semi-permanent (more movable depending on usage of the railing, for instance in construction areas), and portable concrete barriers, which are more permanent but still movable. Concrete barriers are installed because engineers predict many impacts on either side of the railings.

Galvanized W Guardrails

• Galvanized W guardrail roadside railing systems are made of galvanized steel that has been rolled into the shape of a W and are seen across the country. The steel has a high impact absorption and can catch car bumpers before the car goes full impact. The W-shaped steel is mounted to steel or wooden posts. This type of roadside railing has been put to many tests; for instance, these railings have been known to withstand many types of auto accidents, preventing injuries and serious automobile damage.