Types of Traffic Safety Barriers: Designing for Safety (IRC Code SP:119)

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In India’s rapidly urbanizing environment, road safety and landscaping must go hand in hand. According to the IRC Code SP:119, the manual on Planting and Landscaping of Urban Roads, integrating greenery and safety measures is not just an aesthetic choice but a vital necessity for sustainable and secure road design. One of the most important aspects of this integration is the use of traffic safety barriers—not only for controlling vehicles but also for protecting pedestrians, cyclists, and urban green zones.

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This blog explores the various types of traffic safety barriers discussed or implied in the IRC Code SP:119 and how they contribute to landscape integration and safety planning.

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Introduction to Traffic Safety Barriers in Urban Landscaping

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While IRC SP:119 primarily focuses on planting and landscaping guidelines, it indirectly emphasizes the need for multi-functional elements like safety barriers that provide both protection and environmental benefits. In urban design, safety barriers do more than separate vehicle lanes; they:

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• Prevent vehicles from encroaching on pedestrian areas or plantations

• Guide traffic effectively, particularly in complex intersections

• Protect plant zones and irrigation systems

• Support stormwater management systems in certain configurations

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Understanding the Role of Multi-Functional Zones (MFZ)

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A core concept from the IRC Code SP:119 is the Multi-Functional Zone (MFZ)—a designated strip within the Right of Way (RoW) that consolidates various street functions like:

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• Tree plantations
• Utility ducts
• Drainage and bio-swales
• Parking bays
• Safety barriers

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Safety barriers placed within the MFZ serve dual purposes—controlling traffic and protecting landscaping elements like trees, shrubs, and irrigation systems.

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Types of Traffic Safety Barriers for Urban Roads

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Based on the design philosophy laid out in the IRC Code SP:119, the following are the major types of safety barriers and their roles in urban road landscaping:

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1. Pedestrian Safety Barriers

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These barriers are often installed to:

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• Prevent jaywalking

• Direct pedestrian flow to designated crossings

• Protect landscaped sidewalks and MFZs from encroachment

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Design integration: Barriers can be embedded with planters or aesthetic cladding to blend with the surrounding greenery.

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2. Vehicular Crash Barriers

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Traditionally seen in highways, these barriers are also used in urban settings, especially:

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• Around medians with tree plantations

• Near flyovers or underpasses

• At intersections with high-speed merging lanes

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Design considerations per IRC SP:119:
When trees are planted in medians wider than 2.1 m, barriers may be used to separate lanes and provide refuge spaces for both landscaping and pedestrian safety.

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3. Bollards and Tree Guards

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These vertical safety elements serve as both physical and visual barriers.

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• Bollards: Installed to block vehicle entry into pedestrian or green zones

• Tree Guards: Protect individual trees from mechanical damage (e.g., foot traffic or accidental vehicle impact)

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Material preferences: Concrete, metal, bamboo, or a combination of these, as per site conditions and aesthetics.

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4. Bio-Swale Barriers

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These are not traditional safety barriers, but their functional placement as stormwater drains and infiltration systems makes them part of the safety and sustainability infrastructure.

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Benefit:
They prevent waterlogging and ensure road safety during rains, while also acting as soft landscape barriers between traffic lanes and footpaths.

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5. Green Hedges and Living Fences

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Soft barriers such as hedges serve as:

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• Visual screens
• Air pollution buffers
• Natural delineators between vehicular and pedestrian paths

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Guidelines from IRC SP:119:
Use indigenous, hardy, drought-tolerant shrubs planted at a uniform spacing to form effective green barriers.

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6. Retaining Walls and Curbs

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Often used in hilly or sloped areas, these barriers:

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• Stabilize soil to prevent erosion (covered in Section 3.10 of SP:119)

• Protect plantations

• Provide clear demarcation for road users

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Materials recommended:
Geo-textiles and native vegetation are suggested to be integrated for erosion control, particularly in biodiversity zones.

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Key Design Considerations from IRC SP:119

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While the manual doesn't define traffic barriers in the traditional engineering sense, it emphasizes design synergies between landscape elements and road safety features. Here are some critical principles:

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• Barrier integration with irrigation systems such as drip lines and stormwater drains

• Plant species selection that coexists with safety installations

• Adequate spacing for maintenance, pruning, and future road widening

• Visual harmony with the surrounding street furniture and signage

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Best Practices in Implementing Safety Barriers

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• Use of MFZ for barrier placement to reduce disruption to carriageway or footpath

• Tree protection in medians and sidewalks through barrier-embedded planter boxes

• Barrier retrofitting in existing roads to incorporate infiltration modules or decentralized treatment zones

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Challenges and Innovations

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• Challenge: Encroachment of footpaths and green zones by vehicles in absence of barriers

• Innovation: Multi-functional street furniture doubling up as safety barriers (e.g., benches with vertical railings or planter barricades)

• Challenge: Damage to trees during road construction

• Solution: Use of protective tree fencing and integration of barriers as buffers

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Conclusion

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The IRC Code SP:119 is not just a guide for planting trees—it’s a holistic framework for creating safer, greener, and more sustainable urban roads. The integration of traffic safety barriers within the overall streetscape design ensures not only functional safety but also environmental and aesthetic benefits.

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Cities that follow these integrated design principles will not only reduce road fatalities but also create inviting public spaces that promote walking, cycling, and community wellbeing.

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