Choosing the Best Delineator Post for Your Roads
When it comes to traffic safety, choosing the right delineator post is crucial. Delineator posts are essential for guiding drivers, marking changes in road alignment, and providing a clear separation between traffic lanes. Whether you’re working with a local traffic safety supplier, or with a global brand, we want to give you the breakdown of how to identify the right posts for your needs.
First, we want to highlight some of the differences between certain channelizing devices: both tubular markers and delineator posts can be used as channelizing devices in temporary and non-temporary traffic control zones. Channelizing devices guide and warn road users of conditions created by work activities in or near the roadway, ensuring smooth and gradual vehicular traffic flow. They include cones, tubular markers, vertical panels, drums, barricades, and longitudinal channelizing devices.
Tubular markers are commonly used in construction zones and detours but can also be employed permanently to delineate bike lanes, pedestrian pathways, or separate lanes in high-traffic areas. They have a minimum height of 18 inches (28 inches for freeways and high-speed highways), a width facing road users of 2 inches, and specific retro reflectorizing requirements depending on their height.
Delineator posts, while primarily used to mark roadway alignment, can serve as supplementary channelizing devices. They are often used permanently to indicate roadway alignment in areas with curves or lane transitions, providing continuous guidance in various conditions. The retroreflective elements on delineators must have minimum dimensions of 3 inches in both vertical and horizontal directions or a 3-inch diameter if circular.
Both devices enhance safety and traffic flow by clearly marking travel paths and boundaries.
That being said, it’s important to first note that all companies providing traffic delineation should provide specific product details explaining the ins and outs of their units. You can typically find this information within a company website or by contacting their team. On top of this, most companies have multiple models of delineators for multiple uses. In a lot of scenarios, many factors play into how a post performs, from the base it uses, the thickness of the actual post, all the way down to the material it’s made of. The question is: which delineator post do I buy for my needs? Therefore, reading through a product’s breakdown of uses, features, and applications can be beneficial when it comes to making a selection. Here is an example of what that may look like:
In the case of our company, Impact Recovery offers three types of delineator posts designed to meet various needs: the MP2 post, the Tuff post, and the OmegaPost. Here’s a closer look at each to help you decide which one is best for your roads.
MP2 Post: The Multi-Purpose Solution
The MP2 post is our most versatile option, suitable for a wide range of applications including general traffic delineation, centerline traffic separation, marking changes in road alignment, bike lane protection, and parking lot marking. Here are some key features of the MP2 post:
- Durability: The MP2 post sustained 50 hits at 55 MPH during testing and always rebounds fully upright, making it a reliable choice for high-traffic areas.
- Customization: The height can vary up to 60 inches and can be customized to enhance visibility with our select reflective sheeting. The MP2 post is an excellent all-around solution that balances performance and durability, making it ideal for most traffic management scenarios.
- Extreme Weather: Because the MP2 post uses our reactive spring system, it is not subject to failure to rebound due to extreme heat or breakage due to cold. Further, the HDPE post material has excellent cold weather properties.
Tuff Post: The High Visibility Model
The Tuff Post can be made up to 48 inches in height and used for various delineation applications where increased visibility is required. The post is designed to withstand slower speed traffic areas, of up to 55 MPH in max speed. However, they offer larger diameter posts than your standard MP2.
- High Visibility: Built from a flexible polypropylene material, the Tuff Post offers enhanced durability and is a tad wider, perfect for critical visibility needs in various environments.
- Versatility: It’s perfect for use in the same applications as the MP2, offering high flexibility in traffic management, and should be used for marking changes in road alignment.
- Large Panel: The long squeeze option provides a large information panel for bike lanes and other non-regulated notices.
OmegaPost: Highest Impact Resistance
Our newest product, the OmegaPost, sets the standard for impact resistance. Tested at 200 hits at 70 MPH without failure, it is the highest impact-tested delineator currently available on the market.
- Superior Impact Resistance: The OmegaPost’s exceptional durability makes it ideal for high-speed roadways.
- Ideal Applications: It is perfect for toll roads, HOV lanes, highways, and other high-speed traffic areas where maximum durability is required. The OmegaPost is the ultimate choice for traffic safety decision-makers looking for the best solution for high-speed and high-impact environments.
In conclusion, selecting the right delineator post depends on your specific needs and environmental conditions. Ensure that you communicate your needs to your traffic safety representative and have an open conversation over the safety requirements of your specific state/county. The right company should be able to convey their post’s abilities, and therefore, once you have a clear understanding of the unique benefits of each type of post, you can make an informed decision that enhances road safety and meets your traffic management requirements. Contact us today to learn more about our delineator posts and how they can improve safety on your roads.
