Fences and Guardrails

Pedestrian fences and guard rails are used primarily in urban areas at busy junctions and sections of roads to both protect the public and get them to use pedestrian crossings as opposed to crossing busy roads at potentially unsuitable points.

They are inspected during routine safety inspections carried out in relation to the hierarchy category they are placed on.  Dangerous conditions should be made safe within 24 hours and a permanent repair carried out within 28 days.

For further information on the inspection frequencies please use the link on the right hand side.

Safety Fencing

Safety fencing is used on dual carriageway central reserves and around bridge parapets on high speed roads.  Where roads rise above the surrounding ground level by more than six metres, safety fencing is used to protect occupants if vehicles were to leave the road.

At a number of locations in the county, safety fencing with wooden posts may exist.  These were put in many years ago when there was no defined policy for its use.

Where the surrounding ground is greater than six metres lower or whether there is a fen drain in close proximity, the safety fence will be replaced with steel posts.  Where neither of these occurs, after notifying the local Member and Parish Council, the existing safety fence will be removed.

Where safety fencing has been damaged, it is to be made safe within 24 hours and a permanent repair carried out within 28 days.

Steel and wire rope safety fences and pedestrian guard rails should be inspected to check the mounting height, surface protective treatment and structural condition at intervals of not greater than five years.

Tensioning bolts of tensioned safety fences should be checked and reset to the correct torque every two years.