Combination Glare Screen Pedestrian Fence Using Recycled Plastics

Abstract

This paper presents the design and construction of an innovative dual-purpose screen that can block headlight glare while having adequate height to deter pedestrian crossover. Glare screens are used to shield drivers from the headlights of opposing traffic, which has been shown to be detrimental when the glare is within an angle of 20°. Review of previous studies indicates that existing systems, such as expanded metal mesh glare screens, require improvements in design to simplify construction and to reduce maintenance cost. On the other hand, pedestrian deaths from highway crossings over barrier and glare screen installation have warranted the construction of pedestrian fencing on highways in urban areas. The proposed system, called combination glare screen pedestrian fence (CGSPF), has the strength and stiffness to satisfy the structural and geometric requirements of a dual system, and its design is such that it is very easy to install and maintain. The proposed design uses recycled plastics, further reducing both initial and life-cycle costs because of the inherent characteristics and lightweightness of the material. Furthermore, the color and texture of CGSPF can be controlled for aesthetics and safety purposes (e.g., as median delineator); and the use of recycled material is environmentally responsive. A brief description of the recycled plastic material used, and the results of experiments on the mounting systems are also presented.