WA first to replace wire rope barriers

[ruSTynutz]

Western Australia will be the first state in Australia to replace some of its wires rope barriers after a fatal involving a motorcyclist in a Christmas Toy Run late last year.

A spokesman for WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti has confirmed that the State Government has allocated $57.2 million to replace ageing metal barriers and wire rope barriers on the Mitchell Freeway and sections of the Kwinana Freeway.

It follows calls from the Motorcycle Riders Association of WA president Jeff Thomas to speed up the replacement of the barriers, particularly in danger spots.

A spokesman for WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti has now confirmed that the State Government has allocated $57.2 million to replace ageing metal barriers and wire rope barriers on the Mitchell Freeway and sections of the Kwinana Freeway.

“The barriers will be replaced with hard concrete crash barriers to help reduce maintenance costs, and to comply with the recently updated standards for barriers at rail corridor locations,” says special advisor Richard Farrell in a reply to Motorcycle Riders Association of Australia spokesman Damien Codognotto.

Richard says planning for the replacement program will be completed this financial year but works will not be completed until 2023.

Nevertheless, Damien calls the decision a “breakthrough”.

It follows moves in Norway and Ireland to reversed their policy on WRBs which have long been viewed as dangerous to motorcyclists.

Damien says the trend away from WRBs is damning for authorities that continue to roll out the dangerous barriers.

“This with the Victoria Auditor-General’s Office audit of VicRoads cost blow out and diversion of funds to cover wire rope barriers is damning,” he says.

“Never mind the dead and injured victims and traumatised loved ones.”

Damien has said that if road authorities and relevant ministers were not aware of the safety shortcomings of WRBs, “they should not be in their taxpayer-funded jobs”.

Apart from being considered dangerous by motorcycle riders, wire rope barriers are also unfair and discriminate against motorcycle and scooters riders, according to an Australian university road safety professor.

The professor, who wished to remain anonymous, pointed out that WRBs are officially acknowledged as posing more danger to riders and therefore discriminate against them.

His comments have been endorsed by Victorian Motorcycle Council chair Peter Baulch whose state is one of the most prolific in its use of WRBs.

Source: https://motorbikewriter.com/wa-first-to-replace-wire-rope-barriers/

[LindsayGT]

Fantastic news!

I’m wondering why these barriers are still being installed on new roads that have not even been commissioned!!!

I noted this fact just a few days ago!

[ruSTynutz]

Meanwhile here in Victoria, Vicroads (sorry Michael  ) are in denial and going for it hammer & tongs installing mile after mile of new wire rope barriers across the State...

[richo]

 . Great news.  I hate them.  When they do get taken out by a car or truck it takes the SA Gov over 6
Months to repair which makes them more dangerous

[Bodø]

They don't and have never bothered me.

[ruSTynutz]

When they do get taken out by a car or truck it takes the SA Gov over 6
Months to repair which makes them more dangerous

Pretty much the same story here...

There's a barrier on the South Gippsland Highway on the way to Phillip Island that was taken out before Xmas and it's still out of commission.

At least with concrete they are most likely still gonna work after someone has hit them, unlike the wire rope barriers...

[Langers]

I have to admit that I don't like them, but how I feel is not based on knowledge or experience, just gut feel (and the older I get, the more I feel).  For what it's worth, I reckon we'd be better served spending our time improving our riding skills rather than worrying about something that may never happen. And if it did happen - be it concrete, steel, wire or bastard gum tree, the outcome is not likely to be positive.

[ruSTynutz]

The trouble is they quite often put wire rope barriers in areas that don't actually need barriers...

I've seen them with nothing but open paddock behind them. I dunno about you but I'd much rather take my chances with an open paddock than hitting a wire rope barrier at speed.

While a concrete barrier is still not ideal, assuming you don't slam into it at something approaching 90 degrees, you may have some chance of sliding along the face of it, that's not gonna happen with a WRB...

[Jdbiker]

 Don’t like them be it on four wheels or two, feel trapped with no escape route 😳.

[ruSTynutz]

I know what you mean, JD...
Especially where the barriers are down the centreline as well as along the edge of the road, it really feels like you're riding/driving down a tunnel.
There's basically nowhere to go if, for example wild life jumps out in front of you or if a vehicle has broken down...
And, if the worse happens and there's some kind of accident, how can emergency vehicles be expected to attend if they can't get close to the scene?

This news item from last year makes interesting reading: https://www.gippslandtimes.com.au/story/6801280/botched-barrier-job/
When you read of these sorts of "stuff ups" and see for yourself the ridiculous places they are putting these barriers, it's hard not to slag off about the competency (or lack of) of Vicroads and the other State's equivalent road management bodies...

While I accept that barriers of all kinds are a necessary evil, I believe they should be used only when there is no other safer option...

End of rant... 

[Kev Murphy]

Another rider died four days ago after hitting the wire rope on the western freeway near Rockbank, west of Melbourne. He was hit by a car before he impacted the fence.

[Jdbiker]

 

[ruSTynutz]