TXDOT Makes History with First-Ever Use of Glare Screen for Deterring Unsafe Pedestrian Crossings
Preventing Unwanted Tragedies
Over the course of three years, TxDOT saw seven deaths of pedestrians attempting to cross I-30 in Dallas to reach a shopping center. Even though there was a nearby bridge a quarter of a mile either way, people continued to try to cross eight lanes of interstate highway traffic. TxDOT
allocated funds to build a pedestrian bridge, but the department decided to pursue a stopgap measure before bridge construction even began.
“We first considered a chain link fence, but fence becomes a maintenance issue over time and catches debris,” said Martin Gonzalez, an engineer for TxDOT who is now director of maintenance for the Beaumont District. Then, he remembered a glare screen product he viewed
at the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) Traffic Expo.
Selecting a Solution
The Plasticade glare screen system is a vertical blade and rail system that attaches to themedian barrier wall to protect construction workers and drivers on the other side of the highway
from the headlight glares of opposing traffic, hence the name. For decades, it’s also been used
to curtail gawking in work zones. When Gonzalez decided to go with glare screen, TxDOT
became the first known entity to use glare screen as a pedestrian deterrent.
Glare screen blades are typically 14.5 inches apart, according to Thomas Safford, National
Sales Manager for Plasticade, a manufacturer of traffic safety products that designed the
innovative glare screen for TxDOT. For this application to deter pedestrians from crossing high
traffic freeways, Plasticade spaced the blades 7.25 inches apart, which makes the glare screen
look more like a solid wall. Pedestrians would have to break the blades to get across, and they
don’t.
TxDOT saw deaths drop from seven to one. “We’ve found glare screen as a pedestrian
deterrent is a low-cost solution with a high success rate,” said Gonzalez.
Ease of Installation
Not only is Plasticade glare screen effective as a pedestrian deterrent, it’s also easier to workwith. Over three miles of glare screen can fit on one semi-truck, compared to one mile of older
versions of the product. Because it stacks, it takes up to one fifth of the space as a traditional
glare screen.
The new and improved glare screen is comprised of durable and long-lasting polymer plastic,
which eliminates the possibility of fiberglass splinters or rust. Since it’s made from PVC, rather
than fiberglass, it doesn’t require workers to wear protective equipment to handle it either.
Results
Following the pilot project, TxDOT expanded with a second project that included more than
125,000 linear feet of installed product on four highways in the Dallas District. The five miles of
glare screen installation was estimated to take 12 to 14 months to complete. Lite & Barricade of
Dallas (L&B) was able to complete the bulk of installation work in under 100 working nights.
According to L&B supervisor Alex Saenz, who led the project as a subcontractor under general
contractor Select Maintenance, the installation was surprisingly simple and easy to learn.
Installation was completed much sooner than anticipated due to the efficient transport of the
product and the ability to quickly assemble the product directly on the barrier, which has minimal
parts. Once the crew created a system (one worker places bases, one worker drills holes, one
worker installs bolts and one worker pops in blades), they averaged 1500 linear feet per night.
The Dallas District of TxDOT has greatly expanded the use of glare screens to additional area
highways since the initial project several years ago on a short section of I-30.
“If TxDOT decides to remove the product in the future, the system can be easily disassembled
and stored compactly,” said Saenz. “The future of the product is limitless. Municipalities,
counties, toll authorities and state agencies should all consider the product.”