Analysis of Quick Change Moveable Barrier options using QUADRO

This report was commissioned by the Highways Agency to provide an analysis of the feasibility of using the Quick Change Moveable Barrier (QMB) on selected sites on the Highways Agency network. The QMB is a series of interconnected barrier sections whose position on the carriageway can be moved laterally through the use of a specially designed vehicle. Through the application of a moveable barrier the direction of traffic using one or more lanes can be changed at various times in a day, thereby effectively increasing or decreasing the capacity for a temporary period in that direction, while maintaining a safety barrier between the opposing traffic flows. The analysis was completed using the Department for Transport’s software program Queues and Delays at Roadworks (QUADRO). The program was used to calculate the expected delays using current traffic levels both for the current road layout and if QMB was applied.