Pexco LLC partnered with the Alaska DOT to develop a new design of delineator that would improve visibility for DOT workers and the “ice road” truck drivers as well as reduce maintenance for the agency.
The solution is the new “Dalton Delineator”, a cantilever structure consisting of a short length of a Davidson Flexi-Guide FG 400 Roadside Delineator post mounted to a special flexible coupler. The coupler in turn is attached to a square steel tube support that is installed off of the traveled roadway. The delineator post, or “arm” projects horizontally out from the shoulder, above the roadway; is capable of rebounding when struck, and provides excellent reflectivity at night.
In the Spring of 2009, the Alaska DOT contacted Pexco to ask for their help in designing an improved delineator to improve safety on the Dalton Highway. The DOT had previously had good success with the durability of Pexco’s Flexi-Guide FG 400 Roadside Delineator post through the harsh Alaskan winter. They asked Pexco to develop a flexible coupler to mount the impact resistant post to an overhead cantilevered squared steel tube structure.
Using their knowledge of plastics, Pexco developed a square reinforced polyurethane tube that is attached to the delineator and then slipped into the tubular steel cantilever. When the delineator arm is impacted, the flexible polyurethane tube allows the arm to deflect and then return to the proper position. Materials for both the arm and the coupler were chosen for their UV-stability and most especially for their cold temperature impact performance.
The last part of the solution was the use of white delineator arms on one side of the road, and green delineator arms on the opposite side. Similar to the running lights on a boat, this color coding gives drivers clear indication of their position on the road, even in the midst of a blinding snowstorm.
In the summer of 2011, a project was begun that installed these new delineators along a 200 mile long section, providing enhanced visibility for maintenance crews and users of the Dalton Highway. Yet another example of Pexco partnering with their customers to provide traffic safety solutions and save lives!
Key features & benefits of the Dalton Delineator are:
- Engineering thermo-plastic provides excellent extreme-cold impact resistance
- Elevated steel arm reduces chance of damage during snow plow operations
- Unique flexible polyurethane coupler simplifies installation and removal
- Bright colors provide for color-coded road edge identification
- UV-stabilized high impact plastic components
To view more about the new Davidson Dalton Delineator, please contact Pexco or go to:
http://www.pexco.com/pages/TrafficDelineatorPosts.aspx
Davidson Traffic Control Products is a division of Pexco LLC, a global manufacturer of plastic products with decades of technical & engineering expertise. The Davidson Traffic product line includes Barricades, Channelizer Posts, Curb System Lane Separators, Work Zone Pavement Markers, Flexible Delineator Posts, Reflectors for Barrier Walls and Guardrails, Snow Poles and many adhesive products that have gained acceptance worldwide.
