❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the use of wire rope barriers on the Kwinana Freeway, exploring alternatives, costs, safety concerns, and accident investigations. The response defends the use of wire rope barriers in appropriate circumstances.
AnsweredQoN 2631Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(a) what alternative barrier structures were assessed for use along the Kwinana Freeway;
(b) why were wire rope barriers selected;
(c) what are the relative costs of each alternative barrier structure;
(d) why did Norway ban wire rope barriers;
(e) what other European countries have banned this form of barrier;
(f) why are wire rope barriers excluded from consideration as part of the review of road safety barriers referred to in the Minister’s answer;
(g) why are concrete barriers used instead of wire rope barriers on other parts of the freeway system and in numerous other applications, such as the lane separation on the Dawesville Bridge;
(h) will the Minister table a copy of the Main Roads’ investigation into the fatal accident referred to in the answer; and
(i) did Main Roads conclude that the wire rope barrier contributed in any way to the severity of the accident?
(b) why were wire rope barriers selected;
(c) what are the relative costs of each alternative barrier structure;
(d) why did Norway ban wire rope barriers;
(e) what other European countries have banned this form of barrier;
(f) why are wire rope barriers excluded from consideration as part of the review of road safety barriers referred to in the Minister’s answer;
(g) why are concrete barriers used instead of wire rope barriers on other parts of the freeway system and in numerous other applications, such as the lane separation on the Dawesville Bridge;
(h) will the Minister table a copy of the Main Roads’ investigation into the fatal accident referred to in the answer; and
(i) did Main Roads conclude that the wire rope barrier contributed in any way to the severity of the accident?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
19 September 2007
Responded by
Minister for Planning and Infrastructure
Response time
22 days
(a) Alternate barrier types considered were (i) concrete and (ii) metal post and rail barriers (thrie beam and w-beam).
(b) The barrier types along the railway were selected by PTA with advice from Main Roads. Wire rope barriers deflect significantly when hit by a vehicle. This deflection stretches the wire rope which absorbs energy from the collision and reduces the amount of energy transferred back into the vehicle and the driver. Wire rope barriers therefore will usually cause less road trauma to drivers involved in a collision compared to other barriers.
Along some sections of the Kwinana Freeway there is insufficient room between the barrier and the rail line to accommodate the deflection needed for wire rope barriers. In these locations a rigid concrete barrier is used.
(c) Current installation costs, based on a 1 km length are as follows:
Concrete barrier: $ 300 / metre
W-Beam $ 170 / metre
Wire rope barrier $ 130 / metre
(d) It is understood the decision was made in response to approaches from the Norwegian Motorcycle Union.
(e) The Netherlands and Denmark no longer install wire rope barriers. However, as indicated in response to Question on Notice 2408 (14 August 2007) other European countries, such as Sweden, are using this type of barrier extensively.
(f) The review referred to is the review of Australian Standard 3845 Road Safety Barrier Systems. The Standard deals with the requirements for and acceptability of barrier systems. It is not part of the scope of the Standard to approve or review individual barrier types such as wire rope.
(g) Concrete barriers are used in locations such as on the edge of bridges or in narrow medians where there is no room to accommodate the deflection associated with wire rope barriers. Because concrete barriers do not deflect they have a higher crash severity associated with them and therefore are used only in appropriate situations.
(h) Main Roads attended the site immediately following the crash in question. At that time an assessment was made that the road environment had not contributed to the cause of the incident and the matter was left with the Police Fatal Crash Investigation Unit.
(i) Excessive speed contributed to the severe collision between the motorcycle and other vehicles on the road carriageway on the Freeway, based on the Police findings. As indicated in the response to Question on Notice 2408, any barrier is a potential risk to a motorcyclist or vehicle that has left a road carriageway. But wire rope is still regarded by Main Roads, and many other road authorities, as an effective barrier treatment under appropriate circumstances.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
(b) The barrier types along the railway were selected by PTA with advice from Main Roads. Wire rope barriers deflect significantly when hit by a vehicle. This deflection stretches the wire rope which absorbs energy from the collision and reduces the amount of energy transferred back into the vehicle and the driver. Wire rope barriers therefore will usually cause less road trauma to drivers involved in a collision compared to other barriers.
Along some sections of the Kwinana Freeway there is insufficient room between the barrier and the rail line to accommodate the deflection needed for wire rope barriers. In these locations a rigid concrete barrier is used.
(c) Current installation costs, based on a 1 km length are as follows:
Concrete barrier: $ 300 / metre
W-Beam $ 170 / metre
Wire rope barrier $ 130 / metre
(d) It is understood the decision was made in response to approaches from the Norwegian Motorcycle Union.
(e) The Netherlands and Denmark no longer install wire rope barriers. However, as indicated in response to Question on Notice 2408 (14 August 2007) other European countries, such as Sweden, are using this type of barrier extensively.
(f) The review referred to is the review of Australian Standard 3845 Road Safety Barrier Systems. The Standard deals with the requirements for and acceptability of barrier systems. It is not part of the scope of the Standard to approve or review individual barrier types such as wire rope.
(g) Concrete barriers are used in locations such as on the edge of bridges or in narrow medians where there is no room to accommodate the deflection associated with wire rope barriers. Because concrete barriers do not deflect they have a higher crash severity associated with them and therefore are used only in appropriate situations.
(h) Main Roads attended the site immediately following the crash in question. At that time an assessment was made that the road environment had not contributed to the cause of the incident and the matter was left with the Police Fatal Crash Investigation Unit.
(i) Excessive speed contributed to the severe collision between the motorcycle and other vehicles on the road carriageway on the Freeway, based on the Police findings. As indicated in the response to Question on Notice 2408, any barrier is a potential risk to a motorcyclist or vehicle that has left a road carriageway. But wire rope is still regarded by Main Roads, and many other road authorities, as an effective barrier treatment under appropriate circumstances.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.