Safety by VRS Design
All across the county, we have been carrying out design assessments for Vehicle Restraint System (VRS) upgrades and repairs.
During the winter months, our attention turns away from our large road resurfacing projects which are best carried out in the warmer summer months to other essential projects which make up our Capital Programmes.
Throughout October and November, we have been carrying out design assessments for Vehicle Restraint System (VRS) upgrades and repairs, including barrier replacement, guardrail installation, safety fence improvements and clearance of plants and trees.
A VRS is the network of barriers, guardrails, and safety fences you see along our roads, bridges, and junctions. These systems are designed to prevent vehicles from leaving the carriageway, protect road users from hazards, and minimise the impact of accidents.
Keeping Buckinghamshire’s roads safe and resilient is a top priority for Buckinghamshire Highways.
Recent surveys identified damaged, outdated, or non-compliant barriers at multiple sites across the county: Denham, Gerrards Cross, Chalfont St Peter, Saunderton, Shabbington, Wooburn Green, Iver, Cuddington, Slapton, Loudwater, Wycombe, Brill and Stokenchurch.
Issues included
- crash damage
- corrosion
- rotten wooden posts
- and missing bolts.
These were identified through routine safety inspections and local feedback, especially at high-risk locations like embankments and busy junctions. Upgrades are therefore needed to meet modern safety standards and protect all road users.
The steps
- Detailed surveys and photographs will inform new design solutions to allow old barriers to be removed and replaced with systems meeting the relevant highways standards (EN 1317, CD 377, and CD 127).
- In preparation for design works, all necessary plants and trees will be cleared for inspection and installation. The clearance happens before the design work to ensure the site can be properly inspected, without any obstruction. Wildlife and invasive species protocols are followed to minimise impact on ecosystems, habitats or species.
- This work usually requires traffic management (two-way lights and/or road closures) to make sure the teams are safe during all aspects of the works.
New designs will then be finalised and actioned, bringing VRS up to modern standards. This work means that residents can expect safer journeys and improved roadside protection.