Head-On Collisions: Appendix 9
Cost of Median Barriers
NCHRP Synthesis 244 summarized survey results of 39 states to quantify the typical installation cost for roadside and median barriers. The cost includes material and labor but excludes other construction costs, such as grading and site work. The exhibit presents the costs for median barriers included in the survey.
| Costs for Median Barriers |
| Barrier Type |
Installation Cost, Dollars |
| Per Foot |
Per Meter |
| Weak-Post Median Barrier |
| Steel-post cable |
4.88 |
16 |
| Steel-post W beam |
13.12 |
43 |
| Steel-post box beam |
24.10 |
79 |
| Strong-Post Median Barrier |
| Steel-post W beam |
16.17 |
53 |
| Wood-post W beam |
14.64 |
48 |
| Steel-post W beam with rub rail |
45.14 |
148 |
| Wood-post W beam with rub rail |
12.51 |
41 |
| Steel-post thrie beam |
32.64 |
107 |
| Wood-post thrie beam |
23.18 |
76 |
| Concrete Median Barrier |
| F shape |
52.16 |
171 |
| New Jersey |
29.89 |
98 |
| Constant slope |
40.00 |
131 |
| Source: Ray, M.H., and R.G. McGinnis. Guardrail and Median Barrier Crashworthiness. NCHRP Synthesis of Highway Practice, Record 244, 1997. |
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