Highway barrier apparatus and method

Abstract

An energy absorbing roadway barrier for dissipating kinetic energy upon impact by a moving vehicle includes an elongated core of reinforced high density concrete having barrier anchor members attached from the elongated core to a position for anchoring the barrier. An elongated barrier portion is formed around the elongated core and around the core anchor members to form a road barrier. The barrier portion is formed of lightweight concrete using lightweight resilient polymer pieces formed in a cement and water mixture and an interlock portion is formed on each end of the road barrier to connect road barrier sections. The lightweight concrete may be pieces of chopped up vulcanized rubber, such as chopped up used tires which have been prepared and coated and mixed with a cement mixture, alternatively lightweight polymer such as polystyrene, which may be chopped up used polystyrene being recycled can be incorporated into the barrier portion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.