Laying K-Rail

Even though K-Rail has been used on California highways since the early 1970s, moving the 20-foot-long pieces to the correct place, as the photographs below describe, still requires care and teamwork. A worker monitors the barrier clamp (or barrier picker) as it holds a temporary railing.

Photograph Courtesy of Metro. © 2010 LACMTA

A worker applies adhesive which will hold a reflector to the barrier. A metal pin will connect the K-Rail pieces together. For some highway locations the K-Rail is anchored to the ground as well. Each K-Rail weighs an average of 3.9 tons or 7,800 pounds, according to Steven Zaw, a Caltrans segment resident engineer on the I-405 project.

Photograph Courtesy of Metro. © 2010 LACMTA

Workers install a reflector, called a Type-P marker, on the traffic side of the K-Rail. The reflectors are typically used where there is a kink in the alignment of the barriers. The white and orange scheme is commonly used in construction zones.

Photograph Courtesy of Metro. © 2010 LACMTA

The round holes in the K-Rail, called lifting holes, offer one option for lifting the barriers with K-Rail hooks.

Photograph Courtesy of Metro. © 2010 LACMTA

Workers install the pins that hold two pieces of K-Rail together.

Photograph Courtesy of Metro. © 2010 LACMTA

Workers offload yellow crash cushions. The number of crash cushions and their configuration at a location depends on the speed and direction of traffic. The cushions are filled with various amounts of sand, with the first barrels facing traffic having less sand than later barrels.

Photograph Courtesy of Metro. © 2010 LACMTA