The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) is piloting a new guardrail safety system at the on-ramp from Highway 5/35 north (Carpenter Road) to the Interstate 30 eastbound frontage road in Benton in Saline County.

Read more below.

Safety Rolling Barriers (SRBs) are guardrails that use plastic rollers designed to absorb the energy of an impact and distribute it more evenly than common steel barriers. The rotating motion of the barrier helps to guide the vehicle along the road before bringing it to a stop.

“Our agency is committed to enhancing safety and embracing modern technologies,” ARDOT Director Jared Wiley said. “This pilot installation of an emerging technology offers us a chance to check both of those boxes. Depending on the outcome of this test, rolling barriers could become another tool in our toolbox as we strive to continually improve highway safety for all users.”

The SRBs have been crash-tested and have proven to experience less damage to the barrier system itself, which reduces repair costs. The barrier also appears to cause less damage to vehicles, which helps to keep the traveling public safer.

This marks the first time this kind of SRB has been installed on a state-owned roadway. ARDOT plans to monitor the system for approximately one year at the Saline County location to evaluate its performance and determine whether SRBs should be deployed at additional locations where guardrails are currently in use.

🚧👷‍♀️