Common Barrier Wall Sizes in all 50 states

Divided highway systems utilize various methods to separate oncoming traffic lanes. The main method used is the placement of concrete barrier between opposing lanes. The individual Departments of Transportation in each state have specific standards for the size of highway barrier wall to be utilized in road construction projects. These protective concrete barrier wall systems are also widely known as jersey wall, jersey barrier, median barrier, medial barrier, or highway dividers. Below is a list of the wall sizes or concrete barrier dimensions normally being used in each state. Wall styles also vary by state.

State Size/weight State Size/weight State Size/weight
Alabama 6” top /9-12K Kentucky 9” top /20K North Dakota 12” top /9K
Alaska 6” top /9K Louisiana 6” top /12K Ohio 6” top /9K
Arizona 6” top /12K Maine 6” top /9K Oklahoma 6” top /12K
Arkansas 6” top /12K Maryland 6” top /9K Oregon 9” top /9-12K
California 6” top /12K Massachusetts 9” top /9-12K Pennsylvania 6” or 9”top /9-12K
Colorado 6” top /9K Michigan 10” top /12K Rhode Island 6” top /9-12K
Connecticut 9” top /9-20K Minnesota 6” top /9K South Carolina 6” top /9K
Delaware 6” top /9K Mississippi 6” top /9-12K South Dakota 6” top /9K
District of Columbia 6” to 12”top /9-12K Missouri 6” top /9-12K Tennessee 6” or 9”top /12K
Florida 6” top /9K Montana 6” top /9K Texas 9” top /20-24K
Georgia 12” top /9K Nebraska 6” top /9K Utah 6” top /12K
Hawaii 9” or 12”top /9K Nevada 9” top /12-15K Vermont 6” top /9K
Idaho 6” top /9K New Hampshire 6” top /9K Virginia 6” OR 9”top /9K
Illinois 6” or 8”top /9K New Jersey 6” top /12K Washington 6” top /9-12K
Indiana 10” top /9K New Mexico 6” top /9K West Virginia 6” top /9K
Iowa 6” top /9K New York 6” top /12K Wisconsin 6” top /9K
Kansas 6” top /9-12K North Carolina 6” top /9K Wyoming 6” top /9K

 

Kenco manufactures the Barrier Lift, a device that moves concrete barrier wall safely, making the job of placing concrete wall much easier. Kenco has everything from the 1500 pound capacity Curb lifter with a 3 – 12 inch grip range, to a 40000 pound capacity model that boasts a six to twelve inch grip range. There are also models for the low profile wall found in Florida and Texas. See these and many more Kenco attachments for excavator, wheel loader, and backhoe machines at www.kenco.com .

How to Lift Precast Concrete

There are many construction companies that use a precast concrete system instead of pouring concrete on site. Production of precast concrete is used in a wide range of applications. These include architectural panels, free-standing walls, landscaping blocks, capstones, security walls, barriers, and pipe. Forming the precast concrete is completed on the ground level, which increases safety during the process. There is more control of the quality when the system can be completed in a precast plant rather than on a construction site. Also, the forms that are used in a precast plant can be reused many times over. This allows for lower cost of formwork when compared to that of casting at the job site.

Lifting, moving, and positioning the precast concrete systems can be quite cumbersome due to the weight, size, and shape of the object. Maneuvering a concrete pipe or panel to attach the lifting straps can be just as burdensome. Fortunately, there are other options available for contractors who prefer a more productive method when handling these materials, such as precast lifting devices or concrete panel lifters.

Kenco Corporation manufactures a wide range of precast lifting devices and attachments that are specific to the needs of the precast concrete worker. A Pipe Lift is used to grab, lift, and set concrete pipe directly into the trench. Jersey wall and other security barrier wall systems can be easily moved using the Kenco Barrier Lift. Our Kenco Multilift will move cut stone, block and slabs. These are just three of the precast lifting devices that Kenco has designed and engineered to enhance the capabilities of the precast contractor. Many of these actions can be accomplished with just one machine and one operator.

Kenco prides itself on making the job of contractors easier, more productive, and more cost effective with its panel lifting devices.

Factors to consider when choosing a lifting device

Frequently here at Kenco we are requested by a customer to provide a below the hook lifting device based solely on the dimensions (height, width, depth) of the object being lifted. While these parameters are likely the most pertinent, there are a host of other factors necessary to take into consideration in order for our engineers to provide the best solution.

Second only to dimensionality, is the material and structure of the object being lifted. If the object lacks the structural integrity to tolerate a pressure grip type of lift, it is necessary to determine what aspects of the object can be exploited to perform an alternate lift operation. Example: Does pipe need temporary bracing (stulling) to prevent crushing?

The amount of clearance available for the lifting operation is also an oft-overlooked factor. All aspects of the device’s intended use should be considered, including but not limited to:

– Distances between the object to be lifted and adjacent objects
– in storage
– in transit
– in staging
– at final placement
– allowable overhead clearances
– any changes in the orientation of the object that need to take place during the operation (such as from laying flat to standing upright position).

Another major factor in choosing the right Kenco lifting products for heavy objects is the type of equipment to be employed in both the handling and transit operations. Excavator attachments, forklift adapters, cranes, etc.. all have different operational characteristics that affect the handling of the object.

Setting Barrier Wall along the Pennsylvania Turnpike

Barrier wall is a common sight along the interstate highways, and the job of temporary placement to reroute traffic is a daily routine. In the spring of 2013, Strongstown B & K Enterprises was tasked with placing over 65,000 feet of barrier wall along the Pennsylvania Turnpike to separate the normal traffic flow around a scheduled resurfacing project.

A Hyundai 107 excavator was operated by Larry Prain to lift and position the 12 foot wall sections. Owen Covey assisted with guiding and interlocking the highway barrier walls into place. A Kenco KL30000NG Barrier Lift was used to handle the concrete. With this lifting attachment, each three ton wall could be grabbed right from the bed of the truck, set into position and then released automatically. It only took about 30 seconds for these two workers to complete the cycle. Each truck carried nine barrier walls which were being unloaded and set into place in less than 10 minutes. Prain said, ‘It makes it easy to set barrier.’ Covey went on to say, ‘The larger pads (on the NG series) really grab onto the wall. It saves us a lot of work and lets us get the job done much faster.’

Even at 30 seconds per cycle, that still calculated to more than 40 hours of work. The task required them to position over 5,400 twelve foot wall sections along eight miles of highway between the Blue Mountain and Carlisle exits.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Renovation Project 2013

DFW International Airport is undergoing a massive seven year – $900 million dollar terminal renovation project. One of the tasks is to connect the airport to downtown Dallas via the DART rail, which is a light rail system. The DART will run between Northbound Service Road and Northbound International Parkway, and under Taxiway Yankee and Taxiway Zulu at the North end of the airport. Due to the type of work that needs to be accomplished, multiple lane closures are needed in various phases throughout the project

Phillips May Corporation of Dallas, Texas assisted with the project. In June and July 2013, development included lane closures of the 3 lane Northbound Service Road . Thirty-foot concrete traffic barriers (CTB) were delivered to the site on flat bed semi trucks. Using two Gehl telescopic handlers that were each fitted with a Kenco KL 9000 Barrier Lift, the wall segments were removed in unison from the truck beds.

The Kenco Barrier Lifts made a light task of what could have been heavy work. The CTB was picked up and placed in desired location, while flaggers were able to maintain one clear traffic lane during the operation.

One concern that was encountered was how to place and align the CTB under the overpasses of the Taxiways. The low height considerations posed a possibility of the machine damaging the overhead structure. To add to the challenge, the roadway converges to only two lanes at these points, and the airport still required that one lane remain open for traffic.

Once again, the Kenco Barrier Lift resolved the situation. A KL 30000 was chosen to handle the wall capacity and it was attached to a Volvo 320 excavator. Tyson Proovost operated the Volvo, maneuvering it along the future rail path and setting the CTB into position without disrupting the traffic flow.

Hoy Construction Uses KL-9000NG

Hoy’s Construction of Waynesburg, PA was tasked with setting up 12’ concrete barricade walls to separate a newly constructed walkway that ran parallel to a vehicular driveway.

Back at the company yard, boom truck operator Tim Williamson used a remote control to maneuver a Kenco Barrier Lift onto the necessary wall structures. The lifter had also been fitted with alignment legs, which allowed Tim the ability to position the device onto the wall without assistance.

Tim loaded the wall onto his truck, transported them to the nearby job site, and then placed the barrier into its desired position. A ground guide assisted Tim with interlocking the nine walls together. The entire process to set 108 feet of concrete barrier took less than 3 hours.

C.H. & D Enterprises Uses Kenco KL-12000NG

CH & D Enterprises of New Stanton, PA was contracted to assist with a major paving project in southwestern PA in 2013. They used a Kenco KL12000NG barrier lifter to set concrete wall along a busy highway to provide a separation for the soon-to-be construction area.

The Kenco barrier lifter allowed the workers to remove the barriers from the bed of the trucks and then to set the wall into position, all without impeding the traffic flow.