Combination traffic barrier and retaining wall and method of construction

A method of constructing a precast concrete traffic barrier in combination with a precast retaining wall structure adjacent a traffic surface wherein said precast concrete traffic barrier is comprised of a traffic facing sidewall having a longitudinal slot defined by a pair of spaced legs, a longitudinal channel along a nether face, and a second and opposite sidewall, spaced first eyelet means supported by said barrier element, and wherein said precast retaining wall is comprised of at least two similar, end aligned precast wall segments, said retaining wall having a relatively flat vertical outer face, each of said wall segments comprised of a vertically disposed panel with an inner and outer face, said outer face being a relatively flat surface, a pair of vertically disposed U-shaped flanges, said U-shaped flanges horizontally disposed at opposite ends of said panel and projecting rearwardly therefrom, said U-shaped flanges having a bottom and two sides, said U-shaped flanges capable of overcoming overturning forces exerted on said panel, a cooperative top surface of said retaining wall, and said pair of spaced legs of said traffic barrier are adapted to facially engage said U-shaped flanges of said retaining wall, wherein said method of construction comprises the steps of:

• a. constructing foundation means for supporting said retaining wall in the direction of said retaining wall;
• b. drilling a plurality of drill piers to a sufficient depth for withstanding expected overturning and destructive forces which may be applied to said retaining wall, said drill piers substantially aligned with adjacent drill piers having a distance separating said drill piers which is substantially the same distance as the length of said precast wall segment;
• c. attaching reinforcing material to said drill pier and extending upwards a sufficient height for reinforcing said retaining wall;
• d. transporting said precast barrier elements and said precast wall segments to the job site and placing said precast barrier elements and said precast wall segments in the vicinity of their final placement in said combination traffic barrier and retaining wall;
• e. positioning a first precast wall segment over said foundation means so that said first precast wall segment is aligned with a top surface of said foundation means;
• f. lowering said first precast wall segment so that said first precast wall segment engages said top surface of said foundation means by lengthwise contact thereagainst in a stacked relationship, said bottom surface and said U-shaped flanges of said first precast wall segment supporting said precast wall segment in an upright position;
• g. placing a second precast wall segment adjacent to said first precast wall segment so that said U-shaped flange of said second precast wall segment is removably coupled with said U-shaped flange of said first precast wall segment and defining four faces of a stay-in-place form surrounding said reinforcing material extending upward from said drill pier, and so that said outer faces of said wall segments form said relatively flat vertical outer face of said retaining wall;
• h. pouring cast-in-place concrete into said stay-in-place form filling said drill pier and encasing said reinforcing material;
• i. placing sealing material on said top surface of said retaining wall segments and adapted to receive said second sidewall of said barrier element;
• j. positioning said barrier element over said top surface of said retaining wall segment so that said longitudinal channel is aligned with said top surface of said retaining wall segment, said top surface having spaced second eyelet means;
• k. lowering said barrier element so that said second sidewall facially engages said cooperative top surface of said retaining wall segment by lengthwise contact thereagainst in a stacked relationship, said legs of said barrier facially engaging said bottom of said U-shaped flanges by contact thereagainst in a stacked relationship, and said second sidewall and said legs supporting said traffic barrier's weight;
• l. coupling said barrier element and said retaining wall segments by inserting an elongate locking rod through said first eyelet means and said second eyelet means;
• m. pouring cast-in-place concrete through said longitudinal slot to within said longitudinally extending channel encasing said first eyelet means, said second eyelet means, and said elongate rod;
• and
• n. building up said traffic surface to a point at the top of said legs.

A precast concrete wall comprising a plurality of C-shaped retaining wall segments wherein said C-shaped retaining wall segments are capable of being varied in height, width or length, but having a generally similar C-shaped cross-section, each C-shaped retaining wall segment comprising:

• a. a vertically arranged precast concrete panel having a thickness, a height, and a first generally vertical edge and a second generally vertical edge;
• b. a first generally vertically disposed U-shaped member and a second generally vertically disposed U-shaped member, each said first and said second U-shaped member having a front leg and a rear leg, and a thickness and a height substantially similar to said thickness and said height of said panel, each said first and second U-shaped members horizontally located at opposite ends of said panel;
• c. said panel located in a horizontal plane from said front leg of said first U-shaped member to said front leg of said second U-shaped member;
• d. said first U-shaped member, said second U-shaped member, and said panel capable of overcoming ambient overturning forces exerted on said panel whereby said precast C-shaped retaining wall segment is inherently stable and capable of standing upright with no other support.