Construction barrels are traffic control devices used in construction zones to redirect traffic away from workers and equipment. They are typically made of plastic and can be filled with water or sand for stability. Reflective stripes increase visibility, and safety regulations ensure they do not pose a risk to motorists.
A construction barrel is a traffic control device that can be used in construction zones or areas where road works are taking place. The primary purpose of a construction barrel is to funnel traffic away from its normal path to house construction projects, equipment, and workers. Traffic cones, concrete barricades, and a variety of other devices can also serve the same general purpose under different circumstances. Building barrels are usually made of plastic and can be filled with water or sand to make them sturdier. Many jurisdictions have crash test requirements that construction barrels must pass in order to help reduce the possibility of fatal crashes.
When a construction project intrudes on a roadway, there is typically some type of effort to reroute traffic away from workers, equipment, and the project itself. This is also the case with road construction projects where the road itself is being worked on. In some cases, an entire street may be blocked off with barricades, although if there is enough space, an attempt is often made to channel traffic. This could involve closing a single lane and allowing alternating traffic flows through the remaining lane, or driving more lanes so they can remain in use while avoiding a construction project. Building barrels can be used in any of these circumstances.
A construction barrel is a large plastic drum that is typically orange in color. Local jurisdictions often regulate the exact color scheme of these traffic control devices, but they are often orange with horizontal white stripes. The stripes on a construction rod are also often reflective, to increase its visibility. In some cases, a reflector or additional light is mounted on the top of the barrel to further increase its visibility in all conditions.
Construction barrels tend to be hollow and made of plastic, so they’re often filled with water or sand to help hold them in place, especially if they happen to be grazed by passing vehicles. Safety regulations are often enforced on the design of construction barrels and they typically do not withstand a frontal impact from a vehicle. Before the introduction of the plastic construction barrel, these traffic control devices were typically made of metal and filled with water or sand. Older barrels, because they were metal, typically posed a greater risk to motorists in the event of an accident.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
