A risk-based framework for bridge barrier prioritization
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Date
2025-07
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University of New Brunswick
Abstract
In recent years, concerns have been raised by the New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure about the condition of some in-service bridge barriers in the province. Bridge barrier designs must pass a series of crash tests before they are certified for use, but as barriers deteriorate, their ability to successfully contain and redirect vehicles becomes compromised. This can lead to more severe collision outcomes and leaves road authorities open to liability. To combat this issue, a triaging framework that prioritizes barrier needing upgrading was developed using a safety risk-based approach. Bridge surveys were conducted for a sample group of single span steel stringers to determine factors specific to individual locations that affect collision frequency and severity. Once these factors were identified, their influence on crash outcomes were quantified, allowing barriers to be ranked based on the overall safety risk they impose on drivers.