In what is said to be a world first, one of the UK’s oldest motorway footbridges has been given increased protection with a new concrete barrier providing the highest containment level from the lowest working width.
The Smithy Wood Footbridge has provided pedestrian access across the M1 close to Junction 35 near Ecclesfield, South Yorkshire, since this stretch of motorway first opened in the 1960s.
With a lack of space at the roadside limiting the options available, Hardstaff Barriers, the only UK supplier of Rebloc, decided to install Rebloc’s RB185A precast concrete barrier, which was launched earlier this year.
Hardstaff said the RB185A, which needs a footprint of just 0.8 metres, provided a good fit for installation on the site.
It said the barrier, which is 1.85 metres tall and 0.57 metres wide, is the world’s first extensively tested and fully EN 1317-compliant precast concrete safety barrier, with highest containment level H4a and a working width of W1.
The system also has an unmatched vehicle intrusion rating of VI2, Hardstaff said.
Working alongside Joe Roocroft and Sons, Hardstaff Barriers’ team of vehicle restraint system (VRS) experts installed around 200 metres of the barrier on the north and southbound sections of the motorway and connected it to the existing VRS.
Sarah Compton (pictured), Rebloc highways account manager at Hardstaff, said: ‘We were really excited about this project, which saw the world’s first-ever installation of the Rebloc RB185A.
‘This system will greatly improve the safety of this historic footbridge, as well as many more sites to come, where standard high containment barriers just cannot be installed.’
