SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following successful rollouts in Texas and elsewhere, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has deployed Mobile Barriers MBT-1 for ongoing road and bridge work. The barrier has received increasing national and international accolades for improving safety and efficiency of crews, while at the same time improving safety for the traveling public and reducing work zone congestion and delays.
The barrier was recently used for median barrier repair on I-80 near Sacramento. The barrier provided protection for the crew while keeping all lanes open for the traveling public.
“The sheer size of Mobile Barriers MBT-1 provided a noticeable increase in protection and productivity,” said Kevin Cooper of D&M Traffic Services Inc. “We were better able to communicate with each other and felt much safer. The barrier should not only improve worker safety, but allow us to do the work and reopen roadways more quickly.”
The barrier can be quickly pulled in place and moved on when work is completed. “Reducing other equipment may save around $1,000 per day, but perhaps the biggest benefits accrue to the workers in terms of safety and productivity, and to the public in terms of reducing the amount of distraction and delay such work otherwise presents,” continued Cooper.
Last fall, a Caltrans contractor used the barrier for culvert replacement on Highway 101 south of San Jose. The contractor was able to do a full culvert replacement (a full road cut) in two nights while keeping traffic flowing the entire time. Each night, the barrier was pulled in after dark and half the road was dug up. The barrier provided protection for the crew to finish the work at night. Each morning, the barrier was driven away; and the road was fully reopened to traffic.
“We are very pleased to be working with Caltrans to introduce the barrier in California,” said Kevin Groeneweg, CEO of Mobile Barriers. “The feedback has been extremely positive. As others have said, there’s no better way to reduce work zone accidents and improve conditions for everyone than to safely complete the work as quickly as possible and reopen the roadway to normal traffic flow.”
For more information about Mobile Barriers MBT-1, please visit www.mobilebarriers.com.
