Traffic barrier section

Abstract

A traffic barrier section is disclosed herein. The traffic barrier section includes a prefabricated or pre-cast concrete barrier wall section and a poured in-place (i.e., in-situ) moment slab footing. As constructed, the traffic barrier section is suitable for constructing a continuous protective barrier for a roadway. In that regard, a plurality of traffic barrier sections are placed side-by-side in close proximity and supported on a retaining wall to form a continuous protective barrier along the edge of the roadway. In use, the erected continuous protective barrier restrains a moving vehicle on the elevated roadway from traveling over the edge of the retaining wall.

1 . A pre-cast traffic barrier wall, comprising:
 a wall body having a front surface, a back surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, and first and second side surfaces, wherein the back surface comprises an inclined upper back surface section and a lower back surface section; and   a plurality of reinforcement members extending from the lower back surface section.   
     
     
         2 . The pre-cast retaining wall of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of reinforcement members extends through a portion of the wall body. 
     
     
         3 . The pre-cast retaining wall of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of reinforcement members extend orthogonally from the lower back surface section in a spaced apart manner. 
     
     
         4 . The pre-cast retaining wall of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of reinforcement members are a plurality of U-shaped reinforcement members disposed in a spaced apart manner, the U-shaped reinforcement members defining first and second legs that extend from the lower back surface section and a cross member that is embedded in the wall body. 
     
     
         5 . The pre-cast retaining wall of  claim 1 , further including longitudinally and/or laterally extending reinforcement members embedded in wall body. 
     
     
         6 . The pre-cast retaining wall of  claim 1 , wherein the back surface has a Jersey profile. 
     
     
         7 . The pre-cast retaining wall of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface includes a stepped section for interfacing with a top of a retaining wall. 
     
     
         8 . A method of constructing a moment slab barrier wall section at a site, comprising:
 obtaining a pre-cast retaining wall section, the pre-cast wall section having a wall body that includes a front surface, a back surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, and first and second side surfaces, wherein the back surface comprises an inclined upper back surface section and a lower back surface section, and a plurality of reinforcement members extending from the lower back surface section;   placing the pre-cast retaining wall onto a support surface in an upright orientation; and   making a moment slab footing in proximity to the lower back surface section of the retaining wall section that is mechanically coupled to the retaining wall section.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the pre-cast retaining wall section is formed at a location different from the site. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising temporarily restraining the retaining wall section in its upright position prior to making the footing. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising adjusting the height of the retaining wall section prior to making the footing. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein making the footing around the base of the wall further comprises
 erecting a footing form in proximity to the lower back surface section of the retaining wall section, the form creating a cavity for receiving concrete poured therein; and   pouring concrete into the cavity of the footing form.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein making the footing further includes installing at least one reinforcement member in the cavity of the footing form prior to pouring the concrete. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein making the footing further includes mechanically connecting the footing reinforcement member with at least one of the plurality of retaining wall section reinforcement members prior to pouring the concrete. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising
 preparing a supporting surface of a size that is larger than the bottom surface of the retaining wall section.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein placing the pre-cast retaining wall onto a support surface in an upright orientation including placing a portion of the pre-cast wall section onto a top of a retaining wall. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the bottom surface includes a stepped section for interfacing with the top of a retaining wall.