One of the UK’s oldest motorway footbridges has received a safety boost following the installation of what’s claimed to be the world’s first approved highest containment road barrier with the lowest working width.
The Smithy Wood Footbridge has carried people across the M1 near Ecclesfield, in Sheffield, since the stretch of motorway first opened in the 1960s.
Now around 60-years-old, the bridge, which has limited space at the roadside, required increased protection in the event of a collision.
Hardstaff Barriers thus supplied Rebloc’s RB185A precast concrete barrier, which is 1.85m tall and 0.57m wide.
It is reportedly the world’s first extensively tested and fully EN 1317-compliant precast concrete safety barrier with highest containment level H4a and a working width of W1. The system also has a vehicle intrusion rating of VI2.
Requiring a footprint of 0.8m, the system was deemed suitable for installation on the M1, close to Junction 35, to protect the Smithy Wood Footbridge.
Sarah Compton, Rebloc highways account manager, said: “This system will greatly improve the safety of this historic footbridge, as well as many more sites to come, where standard high containment barriers just cannot be installed.”
Working alongside Joe Roocroft and Sons, Hardstaff Barriers’ team of vehicle restraint system (VRS) experts installed around 200m of the barrier.
The system was installed on the north and southbound sections of the motorway and was connected to the existing VRS in place.
