AN INVESTIGATION OF THE USE OF EXPANDED METAL MESH AS AN ANTI-GLARE SCREEN

AN ANTI-GLARE SCREEN, A HEADLIGHT BARRIER FENCE CONSTRUCTED OF EXPANDED METAL MESH MOUNTED ON TOP OF THE MEDIAN BARRIER IS RECOMMENDED AS A SOLUTION TO THE HEADLIGHT GLARE PROBLEM ON DIVIDED HIGHWAYS WITH MEDIANS OF INSUFFICIENT WIDTH. THIS RESEARCH PROJECT WAS DESIGNED TO /1/ FORMULATE PRELIMINARY ANTI-GLARE SCREEN DESIGN CRITERIA, /2/ TEST THESE CRITERIA BY MEANS OF TRIAL INSTALLATIONS, AND /3/ DETERMINE THE ECONOMICS OR FEASIBILITY OF ANTI-GLARE SCREEN INSTALLATION. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE INSTALLATION OF THIS ANTI-GLARE SCREEN AT A HEIGHT OF 4 FT 1 IN ABOVE THE INSIDE PAVEMENT EDGE IS A PRACTICAL WAY OF EFFECTIVELY REDUCING HEADLIGHT GLARE. STEEL IS A SUPERIOR MATERIAL FOR AN EXPANDED METAL MESH ANTI-GLARE SCREEN. THE COMBINATION OF MEDIAN BARRIER AND ANTI-GLARE SCREEN HELPS PREVENT FREQUENT AND EXCESSIVE DAMAGE. ANTI-GLARE SCREEN IS NOT PRACTICAL ALONG SHARP CURVES HAVING NARROW MEDIAN BECAUSE TOO MUCH DAMAGE RESULTS FROM TRUCK OVERHANG. THE ANTI-GLARE SCREEN INSTALLATION APPEARS TO REDUCE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT FREQUENCY AND DOES NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT TRAFFIC FLOW CHARACTERISTICS.