WO2001046525A1

WO2001046525A1 - Apparatus for covering vehicle traffic dividers

Info

Publication number: WO2001046525A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/033828
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leo J. Yodock, Iii; Guy C. Yodock; Leo J. Yodock, Jr.
Original assignee: The Yodock Wall Company, Inc.
Priority date: 1999-12-21
Filing date: 2000-12-14
Publication date: 2001-06-28
Also published as: AU2097401A

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for covering existing vehicle traffic dividers which comprises a number of individual cover or slip-over units each including opposed side walls, a bottom flange and atop wall. The units are positionable over the traffic divider so that the bottom flanges rest atop the roadway thus defining a hollow interior within which a filler material is introduced to substantially encase that portion of the length of the existing barrier contained therein.

Description

APPARATUS FOR COVERING VEHICLE TRAFFIC DIVIDERS

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to vehicle traffic dividers such as

highway barriers and guard rails, and, more particularly, to an

apparatus for covering existing vehicle traffic dividers having the

exterior shape of a highway barrier and a hollow interior within

which fill material such as sand, stone or chunks of rubber carried in

a binder material is introduced to encase the traffic divider.

Background of the Invention

A variety of different devices have been developed for

absorbing the kinetic energy of impact of colliding automobiles, and

for the containment of forces exerted by soil or water. Highway

barrier devices, for example, are intended to provide a continuous

wall or barrier along the center line of a highway when laid end-to-

end to absorb grazing blows from moving vehicles. One commonly

used highway barrier is formed of pre-cast reinforced concrete, and is

known as the "New Jersey" style barrier. Highway barriers of this type have a relatively wide base including side walls which extend

vertically upwardly from the pavement a short distance, then angle

inwardly and upwardly to a vertically extending top portion

connected to the top wall of the barrier. This design is intended to

contact and redirect the wheels of a vehicle in a direction toward the

lane of traffic in which the vehicle was originally traveling, instead of

the lane of opposing traffic. See U.S. Patent No. 4,059,362.

Another type of vehicle traffic divider commonly in use is

a guard rail which comprises a series of spaced, vertical posts formed

of wood, steel or concrete each mounting a pair of opposed extensions

at the top end thereof. A pair of curved rails are secured on opposite

sides of the posts, each having a lower end of which mounts directly

to the post and a midpoint connected to one of the extensions. These

rails extend between adjacent posts to form a substantially

continuous surface on either side of the posts thus defining the sides

of the vehicle traffic divider.

One deficiency of highway barriers and guard rails of the

type described above, and particularly older versions of same, is

insufficient height to accommodate newer and larger vehicles. Many

older highway barriers have a height in the range of about 32-36

inches, and guard rails are often only 28 inches in height, both

measured vertically from the surface of the roadway. It has been found that trucks including larger pick-up trucks, sport utility

vehicles and front wheel drive vehicles can "climb" or move over the

sides of vehicle dividers which are only 36 inches in height or less.

The result is a collision with traffic moving in the opposite direction

in the lane(s) on the other side of the divider, which is exactly what

the barrier or guard rail is intended to prevent.

In fact, it is desirable to construct vehicle traffic dividers

with a height of about 56-60 inches, and many local and state codes

have been revised to specify same for new construction. The problem

is what to do with the thousands of miles of highway in the United

States having undersized vehicle traffic dividers of the type described

above. One solution proposed for concrete highway barriers has been

to drill a series of longitudinally spaced bores into the interior

thereof, from the top wall downwardly, and then insert reinforcing

bars into the holes. A concrete cap is poured in place atop the top

wall of the barrier which encases the reinforcing bars for added

strength. The total height of the barrier and cap falls within the

range noted above, as desired.

There are a number of problems with concrete caps. It is

relatively expensive and labor intensive to drill holes in existing

barriers, position the reinforcing bars and then pour the concrete caps

in place. More importantly, it has been found that when impacted by a vehicle, the cap portion of the barrier tends to break apart because

it is only secured atop the underlying barrier by the reinforcing bars.

This can send chunks of concrete from the cap like missiles into

traffic on the opposite side of the vehicle divider, creating a situation

at least as dangerous as that experienced with the original, shorter

barriers.

Moreover, simply replacing older and shorter concrete

highway barriers or guard rails with new ones which meet height

specifications is not a viable option in many situations. Such

replacement operations usually result in shutting down of a roadway

in essentially the same manner as if the roadway itself was being

repaired or replaced. In most instances, government and highway

officials do not consider it economically feasible to proceed with

divider repair or replacement alone, without working on the highway

as well. Consequently, if the roadway is in good condition, there is

substantial reluctance to proceed with the replacement of existing

dividers. There is therefore a need for a means of bringing existing

concrete barriers and guard rails within current height specifications,

in a manner which is economically feasible particularly in situations

where repair or replacement of the highway itself is not currently

needed. Summary of the Invention

It is therefore among the objectives of this invention to

provide an apparatus for use with vehicle traffic dividers such as

highway barriers and guard rails which allows such dividers to meet

height specifications, which is economical to install without repair or

replacement of the associated roadway, which lessens friction upon

impact with a vehicle bumper and which substantially prevents

accidental passage of a vehicle from one lane of traffic to the opposite

lane.

These objectives are accomplished in an apparatus for

covering existing vehicle traffic dividers which comprises a number of

individual cover or slip-over units each including either one-piece

molded units, or, alternatively, first and second sections having a side

wall, bottom flange and top wall. The one-piece units or first and

second sections are positionable over the traffic divider so that the

bottom flanges rest atop the roadway, thus defining a hollow interior

within which a filler material is introduced to substantially encase

the existing barrier contained therein.

This invention is predicated on the concept of providing

a solution to the problem of how to economically, efficiently and safely

increase the height of existing highway barriers and guard rails in

order to meet current standards and specifications. As noted above, thousands of miles of highways employ vehicle traffic dividers which

are 36 inches in height or less. Current highway specifications in

most areas require dividers having a height of 56-60 inches. In order

to meet specifications, the individual units of this invention are a full

56-60 inches in height, extending from the roadway vertically

upwardly, and completely encase the existing vehicle traffic dividers.

In one presently preferred embodiment, each unit

comprises first and second sections located on opposite sides of the

highway barrier or guard rail. Each section is formed of a semi rigid

plastic material, including a side wall having opposed ends, a bottom

edge and a top edge, a bottom flange connected to the bottom edge of

the side wall and a top wall connected to the top edge of the side wall.

The bottom flange of each section rests atop the roadway, and is

preferably formed with a number of throughbores which receive

stakes to secure the sections to the roadway. The top walls include

mounting structure for interconnecting one to the other, thus defining

a hollow interior between the first and second sections which contains

a portion of the traffic divider. In the assembled condition, the first

and second sections of each unit resemble a highway barrier having a

curb reveal extending upwardly from the bottom flange, a vertical

portion extending downwardly from the top wall and an inwardly tapering, intermediate portion between the curb reveal and vertical

portion.

One end of the side wall of each section is formed with

an extension. In order to cover a vehicle traffic divider of given

length, a number of individual units are assembled end-to-end with

the extensions of the first and second sections of one unit being

slidably received within the facing end of the first and second sections

of an adjacent unit. Preferably, the bottom flange of each unit is

vertically offset at one end, where the units abut one another, to

avoid interference therebetween.

The top wall of the first and second sections of each unit

is formed with at least one cut-out, which, when the sections are

assembled, collectively form a fill hole. The fill hole(s) of each unit

receives a material which is introduced into the hollow interior of

each unit and substantially completely encases that portion of the

vehicle traffic divider therein. In one presently preferred

embodiment, the filler material comprises rubber chunks or granules

which are encased in a binder material such as urethane. The rubber

granules and binder material form a slurry which is poured into the

interior of the units in position over the vehicle traffic divider. The

slurry solidifies to form a resilient core within the unit interior which surrounds the divider. Alternatively, the fill material can be sand or

stone.

In an alternative embodiment, each unit has a one-piece

molded construction formed in the shape of a conventional barrier

and sized to fit over an existing highway barrier or guard rail.

Adjacent, one-piece units are assembled end-to-end in the same

fashion noted above, and include fill holes for the introduction of filler

material therein as described in the previous embodiment.

The units of this invention provide a number of

advantages over the prior art concrete cap approach discussed above,

and solves the height problem of existing, shorter vehicle dividers.

The assembled units, with the core of resilient filler material, form

essentially a one-piece unit unlike the concrete caps employed in the

prior art atop existing concrete highway barriers. Each unit is

securely staked to the highway along its bottom flanges, and the

halves or sections of the two-piece units described above are securely

connected to one another. As such, the units remain in tact when

struck by a vehicle and do not break apart, unlike the concrete cap

construction described above. The plastic material forming the

sections of each unit has a low coefficient of friction, compared to

conventional highway barriers, which tends to cause vehicles to slip

or slide therealong upon impact. The curb reveal of each unit directs the wheels of a vehicle toward its own lane of traffic instead of across

the unit to the opposite side of the roadway. Additionally, the

resilient core of the units substantially absorbs the force of a vehicle

impact, causing the vehicle to tend to "bounce off or deflect into its

own traffic lane. Moreover, the existing vehicle traffic divider

remains in place within the interior of the assembled units, i.e., the

concrete highway barriers or guard rails, which provides substantial

additional strength to the overall assembly in resisting the force of a

vehicle impact.

Description of the Drawings

The structure, operation and advantages of the presently

preferred embodiment of this invention will become further apparent

upon consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction

with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a prior art vehicle traffic divider

employing highway barriers within which reinforcing bars are

positioned;

Fig. 2 is an end view, in partial cross section, of the

barrier of Fig. 1 with a concrete cap in place;

Fig. 3 is an end view of a guard rail;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the guard rail of Fig. 3 encased

within one embodiment of the apparatus of this invention; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the fully assembled

unit of Fig. 4, taken generally along line 5-5 of Fig. 4, depicting the

core of filler material encasing a guard rail;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the unit of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken generally along line

7-7 of Fig. 6, including the core of filler material encasing a highway

barrier;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of two units according to Fig.

4, assembled end-to-end over a highway barrier;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken generally along line

9-9 of Fig. 10, depicting the core of filler material encasing a highway

barrier; and

Fig. 10 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of

the units of this invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Referring initially to Figs. 1-3, prior art vehicle traffic

dividers are schematically depicted. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a traffic

divider comprising a number of highway barriers 10 of the type such

as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,059,362. As discussed above, in

order to meet recently promulgated height specifications for vehicle

traffic dividers, such highway barriers 10 have been modified to include a concrete cap 12 held in place atop the highway barriers 10

by a series of reinforcing bars 14. A typical guard rail 16, having a

height on the order of about 28 inches, is schematically depicted in

Fig. 3.

Referring now to Figs. 4-8, the units 18 of one

embodiment of this invention are illustrated in detail. Each unit 18

comprises a first section 20 and a second section 22 both formed of a

semi rigid plastic material chosen from the group consisting of low

density polyethylene, acrylonitrite or butadiene styrene, high impact

styrene, polycarbonates and the like. The construction of first and

second sections 20, 22 is identical, and therefore only section 20 is

discussed herein with the same reference numbers being applied to

the same structure in second section 22 with the addition of a " ' ".

First section 20 includes a side wall 24 having opposed

ends 26, 28, a top edge 30 and a bottom edge 32. For purposes of the

present discussion, the terms "top" or "upper" refer to a direction

extending vertically upwardly with the unit 18 in the orientation

depicted in Figs. 5, 7 and 8, whereas the terms "bottom" or "lower"

refer to the opposition direction. The top edge 30 of side wall 24 is

connected to a top wall 34 whose opposite end forms an upwardly

extending flange 36. A bottom flange 38 extends perpendicularly

from the bottom edge 32 of side wall 24, and is preferably formed with a number of throughbores 40 for purposes to become apparent below.

In the presently preferred embodiment, the top wall 34 is formed with

a number of cut-outs 42 which extend from the flange 36 inwardly

toward the top edge 30 of side wall 24.

The first and second sections 20, 22 are interconnected

to one another so as to substantially completely contain or encase a

guard rail 16 or a highway barrier 10 as shown in Figs. 5 and 7,

respectively. For example, with reference to Fig. 5, the first section

20 is located on one side of the guard rail 16 such that its bottom

flange 38 rests atop the roadway 44 and its top wall 34 overlies the

guard rail 16 beneath. The second section 22 is positioned on the

opposite side of guard rail 16 so that the flange 36 of first section 20

abuts the flange 36' of second section 22. Each of the flanges 36, 36'

are formed with a number of throughbores 46 which align with one

another to receive a bolt 48 and nut 50 to secure the top end of each

divider unit 18 together. A stake 52 is driven into the roadway 44

through each of the throughbores 40 in bottom flange 38 and 38' of

sections 20, 22, respectively, in order to hold the overall unit 18 in

place with respect to the guard rail 16.

With the first and second sections 20, 22 in the

assembled position depicted in Figs. 5, 7 and 8, a hollow interior 54 is

defined which substantially encloses the guard rail 16 or highway barrier 10. In the presently preferred embodiment, the first and

second sections 20, 22 forming each divider unit 18 have the general

profile of a highway barrier wherein the opposed side walls 24, 24'

each have a curb reveal 56, 56' extending upwardly from the surface

of the roadway 44, a vertical portion 58, 58' extending substantially

vertically downwardly from the top of the unit 18, and, an

intermediate section 60, 60' extending therebetween. The low friction

plastic material from which the first and second sections 20, 22 are

constructed, and the height of the curb reveals 56, 56', effectively

redirect the wheels of a vehicle upon impact so that the vehicle

remains in its lane of travel rather than moving over the divider unit

18 and into the lane of opposing traffic.

In order to cover a given length of highway barriers 10

or guard rail 16, the side walls 24, 24' and top walls 34, 34' of each

first and second section 20, 22 is provided with structure to

interconnect adjacent divider units 18 end-to-end. As best seen in

Figs. 6 and 8, one end of the flange 36, 36' of each top wall 34, 34' is

formed with an offset portion 62, 62', respectively, which protrude

outwardly from the end 28, 28' of wall sections 24, 24'. Additionally,

the ends 26, 26' of side walls 24, 24' are each formed with a tapered

extension 64, 64', respectively. When the units 18 are oriented end-

to-end, the extensions 64, 64' of side walls 24, 24' of one unit 18A are slidably received on the inside of the ends 28, 28' of the sidewall 24,

24' of an adjacent unit 18B, and the protruding offset portions 62, 62'

of unit 18B receive the flanges 34, 34' of unit 18A. In this position,

the throughbores 46, 46' in each of the offset portions 62, 62' of unit

18B align with each other, and align with the throughbores 46, 46' in

each of the flanges 36, 36' of unit 18A. The four, aligning

throughbores 46 receive a bolt 48, secured by a nut 50, to

interconnect the units 18A and 18B at their abutting ends.

Additionally, as best seen in Figs. 3 and 8, a portion of the bottom

flange 38 protruding from the end 26 of side wall 24 of unit 18B and

is vertically offset, i.e., as at 66, so as not to interfere with the bottom

flange 38 of the adjacent unit 18A when they are assembled end-to-

end. The opposite side wall 24' of unit 18B is formed with the

identical offset 66'. Preferably, the offset 66 portion of bottom flange

38 has a bore 67 which aligns with the bore 40 in the bottom flange

38 of unit 18A so that a stake 52 can be inserted therethrough and

driven into the roadway 44.

As noted above, the first and second sections 20, 22 of

each unit 18 define a hollow interior. In the assembled condition, the

cut-outs 42, 42' formed in the top walls 34, 34' of first and second

sections 20, 22, respectively, define longitudinally spaced fill holes 68

leading into the interior of each unit 18. These fill holes 68 provide access for a filler material which is introduced into the hollow interior

of each unit 18. In one presently preferred embodiment, the filler

material is a mixture of granules 72 of rubber material embedded in a

binder material 74 such as urethane. The rubber granules 72 are

formed from new industrial scrap rubber and are free of metal, stone,

fiber and other contaminants. The rubber granules 72 are a polymer

blend of various rubber types including EPDM (65% ± 5%), natural

rubber, neoprene, nitrite and SBR. Such blend of rubber types has a

specific gravity of 1.48 (± 0.02) measured by ASTM D-297, a hardness

(Shore/A) of 60 (± 3) and a minimum rubber hydrocarbon content of

35%. The rubber granules 72 range in size from about 0.5 mm to

about 6.0 mm, and are greatly exaggerated in size in Figs. 5, 7 and 10

for ease of illustration. Rubber granules 72, and the urethane binder

74, are commercially available from American Recycling Center of

Linwood, Michigan.

The rubber granules 72 are interspersed within the

binder material 74 in a ratio of about 15% binder material 74 to 85%

rubber granules 72, by weight. This mixture forms essentially a

slurry which is introduced into the hollow interior of each unit 18

through the fill holes 68. The filler material substantially encases

the entire outer surface of the highway barriers 10 or guard rail 16 contained within each unit 18 and subsequently hardens to form a

resilient core within each unit 18.

With reference to Figs. 9 and 10, an alternative

embodiment of this invention is illustrated in which units 100 are

formed in a one-piece construction instead of interconnected, first and

second sections 20, 22 as in the embodiment of Figs. 4-8. Each unit

100 is formed of the same material as units 18, and has a hollow

interior 101 for receiving filler material 74 as described above in

connection with Figs. 4-8.

As shown in Figs 9 and 10, opposite sides of each unit

100 are identical to one another and therefore only one side wall 102

of each unit 100 is discussed. The same reference numbers are

applied to the same structure on the opposite side wall with the

addition of a " ' ". The side wall 102 has a top edge 104, a bottom edge

106 and opposed ends which, collectively with the ends of side wall

102', form the ends 108 and 110 of unit 100. The unit 100 is formed

with a top wall 112 extending between the two sidewalls 102, 102',

which is formed with longitudinally-spaced fill holes 114 for receiving

filler material, as described above in connection with the embodiment

of Figs. 4-8. A bottom flange 116 extends perpendicularly from the

bottom edge 106 of sidewall 102, which is formed with a number of

throughbores 118. Stakes 52 are driven into the roadway 44 through each of the throughbores 118 to secure the units 100 in place as

described above.

With a unit 100 in position, as shown in Fig. 10, a hollow

interior is defined which substantially encloses the highway barrier

10 or a guard rail 16 (not shown). In the presently preferred

embodiment, the unit 100 has the general profile of a highway barrier

wherein the opposed side walls 102, 102' each have a curb reveal 122,

122' extending upwardly from the surface of the roadway 44, a

vertical portion 124, 124' extending substantially vertically

downwardly from the top of the unit 100, and, an intermediate

section 126, 126' extending therebetween. The low friction plastic

material from which the unit 100 is constructed, and the height of the

curb reveals 122, 122', effectively redirect the wheels of a vehicle

upon impact so that the vehicle remains in its lane of travel rather

than moving over the unit 100 and into the lane of opposing traffic.

In order to cover a given length of highway barriers 10

or guard rail 16, the side walls 102, 102' and top wall 112 of each unit

100 is provided with structure to interconnect adjacent units 100 end-

to-end. As shown in Fig. 10, the end 108 of each unit 100 is formed

with inwardly tapered extensions 128 and 130 which are received

within an abutting end 110 of an adjacent unit 100. The tapered

extensions 128, 130 of one unit 100 are sized to fit within an adjacent unit 100 to interconnect the two. Once connected, the units 100

receive filler material within their hollow interior through fill holes

114 in the same manner as described above.

While the invention has been described with reference to

a preferred embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in

the art that various changes may be made and equivalents

substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of

the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt

a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention

without departing from the essential scope thereof. For example, the

filler material described above comprises rubber granules 72

embedded in a binder material 74. It is contemplated that other filler

materials such as sand, stone and/or gravel could be employed to fill

the interior of units 18 or 100.

Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be

limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode

contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention

will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended

claims.

What is claimed is:

Claims

1. Apparatus for use with a vehicle traffic divider located

along a roadway which includes substantially continuous side walls

each facing a lane of traffic, said apparatus comprising:

a first section and a second section each including a top

wall and a side wall having opposed ends, a bottom edge and a top

edge, said top wall of each section being connected to said top edge of

a respective side wall;

each of said first and second sections being positionable

along one side of the vehicle traffic divider so that said bottom edge of

each section rests atop the roadway and said top wall of said first

section connects to said top wall of said second section, said first and

second sections collectively defining a hollow interior adapted to

receive a portion of the length of the vehicle traffic divider; and

a filler material introduced into said hollow interior and

substantially encasing that portion of the vehicle traffic divider

contained therein.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said top wall of each

of said first and second sections is formed with a top flange having a

number of throughbores, said top flange of said first section abutting

said top flange of said second section so that said throughbores align

with one another.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further including a mounting

device including a bolt and nut for each pair of aligning throughbores

in said top flanges of said first and second sections, each of said bolts

being inserted within a pair of aligning throughbores and tightened

down with a nut to interconnect said top flanges.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a bottom

flange connected to said bottom edge of each of said first and second

sections, said bottom flange of each of said first and second sections

being formed with a number of throughbores which receive stakes

insertable through a throughbore in said bottom flange and into the

roadway to secure said first and second sections in place thereon.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said top wall of each

of said first and second sections is formed with at least one cut-out,

said at least one cut-out of said first section aligning with said at

least one cut-out of said second section to collectively form a fill hole

for receipt of said filler material.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said filler material

includes pieces of rubber material embedded within a binder

material.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said pieces of rubber

material are rubber granules formed from scrap rubber.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 in which said binder material

is a urethane material.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said side wall of each

of said first and second sections is formed with a profile including a

curb reveal extending upwardly from said bottom edge, a vertical

portion extending substantially vertically downwardly from said top

wall and an intermediate section extending between said curb reveal

and said vertical portion.

10. Apparatus for use with a vehicle traffic divider located

along a roadway which includes substantially continuous side walls

each facing a lane of traffic, said apparatus comprising:

a number of individual units each including:

(i) a first section and a second section each

including a top wall and a side wall having opposed ends, a

bottom edge and a top edge, said top wall of each section being

connected to said top edge of a respective side wall;

(ii) one end of said side wall of each of said first

and second sections being formed with an extension;

(iii) each of said first and second sections being

positionable along one side wall of the vehicle traffic divider so

that said bottom edge of each section rests atop the roadway

and said top wall of said first section connects to said top wall

of said second section, said first and second sections collectively

defining a hollow interior adapted to receive a portion of the

length of the vehicle traffic divider;

said units being positioned end-to-end along the vehicle

traffic divider so that said extension on said one end of each said first

and second sections of one unit is received within said hollow interior

of an abutting unit at the end of each said first and second sections

opposite said extension; a filler material introduced into said hollow interiors of

adjacent units which substantially encases that portion of the vehicle

traffic divider contained therein.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which said bottom flange of

said first and second sections of each unit has a raised portion

adjacent said opposite end of said side wall which receives said

extension.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 in which said top wall of each

of said first and second sections of each said units is formed with a

top flange having a number of throughbores, said top flange of said

first section abutting said top flange of said second section so that

said throughbores align with one another.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further including a mounting

device including a bolt and nut for each pair of aligning throughbores

in said top flanges of said first and second sections, each of said bolts

being inserted within a pair of aligning throughbores and tightened

down with a nut to interconnect said top flanges.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 in which said top flange of

each of said first and second sections at one end of each said cover

units is formed with an offset portion which protrudes from said units, said offset portions of said first and second sections receiving

therebetween a portion of said top flanges from an abutting unit, said

offset portions and said top flanges being formed with aligning

throughbores which receive a bolt secured thereto by a nut.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 further including a bottom

flange connected to said bottom edge of each of said first end second

sections, said bottom flange of each of said first and second sections of

each said units being formed with a number of throughbores which

receive stakes insertable through a throughbore in said bottom flange

and into the roadway to secure said first and second sections in place

thereon.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 in which said top wall of each

of said first and second sections is formed with at least one cut-out,

said at least one cut-out of said first section aligning with said at

least one cut-out of said second section to collectively form a fill hole

for receipt of said filler material.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 in which said filler material

includes pieces of rubber material embedded within a binder

material.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 in which said pieces of rubber

material are rubber granules formed from scrap rubber.

9. The apparatus of claim 17 in which said binder material

a urethane material.

20. Apparatus for use with a vehicle traffic divider located

along a roadway, comprising:

a one-piece unit including a top wall, opposed ends and

opposed side walls each having a bottom edge which collectively form

a hollow interior adapted to receive a portion of the length of the

vehicle traffic divider, each of said sidewalls being formed with a curb

reveal extending upwardly from said bottom edge, a vertical portion

extending downwardly from said top wall and an intermediate section

extending between said curb reveal and said vertical portion;

a filler material introduced into said hollow interior of

said one-piece unit and substantially encasing that portion of the

vehicle traffic divider contained therein.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further including a bottom

flange connected to said bottom edge of each of said side walls, said

bottom flanges being formed with a number of throughbores which

receive stakes insertable therethrough and into the roadway to

secure said one-piece unit in place on the roadway.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 in which said filler material

includes pieces of rubber material embedded within a binder

material.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 in which said pieces of rubber

material are rubber granules formed from scrap rubber.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 in which said binder material

is a urethane material.