Quick Deployment of Plastic Jersey Barriers Keeps Vehicles Away from Sinkholes
States, municipalities, and private businesses are occasionally forced to deal with a public safety hazard caused by the emergence of sinkholes in roads or parking lots. Recent news reports have noted the occurrence of sinkholes caused by mine subsidence in states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois.
While dealing with the long-term ramifications of repairing damage caused by mine subsidence, these locations have also had to respond to the short-term issue of maintaining safety by keeping people and vehicles away from sinkholes. Recently, plastic jersey barriers supplied by The Tamis Corporation have proven to be an effective tool in preventing vehicles from approaching these problem areas.
Acting as both a physical and visual barrier, plastic jersey barriers communicate in no uncertain terms that the blocked area is unsafe, thus preventing vehicles from driving or parking close to the collapsed ground. Because of the rapidity at which they can be deployed, they can immediately address the site’s public safety issue.
Sinkholes which result from mine subsidence (most frequently due to the collapse of an old abandoned underground mine) usually occur with little or no warning. But because a set up of plastic jersey barriers requires only one truck and one person, a site can almost instantaneously achieve a basic level of public safety. Weighing as little as 100 pounds, each barrier (most commonly 42 inches in height and 72 inches in length) can be moved into place by one person.
Unlike other potential barrier options, plastic jersey barriers require no crane or other heavy equipment to be moved onto the grounds of an already-fragile site. The barriers can be moved onto a truck’s lift, lowered to the ground, and then moved into place by one individual. (Or, two individuals can even more easily carry each barrier to its destination point.)
Made of heavy-duty, low-density polyethylene, plastic jersey barriers become an even more ideal solution because they can be moved easily if the size of a sinkhole expands, or conversely, when later repairs make the danger zone smaller.
Available in numerous color options (from traditional safety orange and white to desert tan or military green), plastic jersey barriers are highly-visible to motorists, making them an ideal tool for channeling traffic around restricted zones.
In cases where more strength and stability for each individual barrier is needed, there are two options. Heavier barriers can be chosen (including a 170 pound version) or the barriers can be filled with water via a large, easily-accessible fill hole at the top of each barrier.
To help cities or businesses deal with security around sinkholes, plastic jersey barriers can be purchased or rented from The Tamis Corporation. A multi-divisional company specializing in crowd management, traffic safety and security products, Tamis has distributed Guardian plastic jersey barriers since 1994. For more information, phone 888-436-1233, or visit www.plasticjersey.com.
