Development and Full-Scale Crash Testing of an Improved Steel Railing for Use on Top of Barriers: Phase II 

Background

Boston’s Big Dig tunnels were constructed with a walkway on top of concrete F-shape traffic barriers along the sides of the tunnels. To protect maintenance workers, or anyone utilizing the walkway in an emergency, pedestrian railings were installed on top of the traffic barrier sections that contained a walkway. While both the barrier and pedestrian railings meet their individual design standards, the combination of the steel railing on top of the traffic barrier has, in certain rare cases, proven to cause serious injuries and fatalities to seated motorcyclists. There is a need to explore options for an improved combination traffic barrier and railing system to be deployed at appropriate locations.