TVCB & Fence Installation on the A38 Devon Expressway, near Bromsgrove

Background

As part of an essential road maintenance programme, our client needed to create a safe, secure work zone along a stretch of the A38 Devon Expressway near Bromsgrove. The maintenance works included verge reinforcement and drainage repairs, and due to the high-speed traffic on this dual carriageway, robust protection for workers was required.

Given the nature of the highway and the level of risk, the decision was made to use our expert installation services to deploy Temporary Vertical Concrete Barriers (TVCB) reinforced with interlocking fence panels, creating a continuous, highly visible and crash-tested containment system.

   

Challenges

1. High-speed traffic conditions: The A38 is a fast-flowing route, so any safety barrier needed to be crash-rated to manage the worst-case scenario of an errant vehicle.
2. Limited footprint: The maintenance zone had constrained space; requiring a safe working corridor without encroaching on live traffic more than necessary.
3. Rapid deployment requirement: The road closure window was limited. The system needed to be installed quickly, with minimal disruption to traffic.
4. Durability and modularity: The barrier system needed to be robust, but also removable without damaging the carriageway.
5. Installation at night: This was carried out, out of hours under a road closure.

Solution

We supplied and installed:

• 6 TVCB units, each 3 m long, interlocking via M24 high-tensile bolts to form a continuous barrier. These are standard TVCB blocks that meet crash-testing standards.
• Temporary fencing panels mounted directly on top of the TVCBs, bolted into the barrier blocks to provide additional height, visual delineation, and protection.
• Lifting and installation via our specialist crane-equipped transport, aligning each barrier precisely, bolting them securely in place at scarf joints, and installing the fence panels to specification.

The concrete barriers were oriented according to traffic flow (using the directional arrows cast into the units) to ensure correct deflection in the event of a collision. The fence posts were bolted into the TVCB blocks using the connecting brackets and couplers.

Outcome & Benefits

• Rapid Deployment: The barrier and fencing installation was completed well within the client’s road-closure schedule, minimising disruption to the A38.
• Robust Protection: The combination of TVCB and fence panels created a durable, high-visibility solution that provided a secure working corridor and reduced risk to the maintenance crew from passing traffic.
• Modularity & Reuse: After the maintenance work, the system can be dismantled, re-bolted, and redeployed elsewhere on future projects as a cost-effective and flexible solution.
• Client Satisfaction: The highway contractor praised the installation team for professionalism, precision, and efficient handover. The system met all their safety and operational objectives.

 

Key Take-Aways

• TVCB systems provide strong, crash-tested protection for highway maintenance sites, especially on high-speed roads.
• Combining TVCB with temporary fencing offers both containment and increased height, making the barrier more visible and effective.
• Interlocking, modular design allows for rapid deployment and reusability, helping to reduce costs over multiple projects.