Curb Ramps Cheapest

In our travels throughout the country, we see many instances of jurisdictions who have chosen the cheapest way to construct their curb ramps. This involves the use of a variety of detectable warning systems. Some of these include stamping the domes into wet concrete, certain types of pavers and rubber mats.

Many of these products have been seen to be destroyed within a few years. Products made from concrete or masonry have no tensile strength and are porous leading to breakage of the domes due to various environmental factors.

Many available surface applied products are made from pliable materials such as rubber. They have proven not to be able to withstand the harsh environment found in public rights of way. The damage to these products is not isolated to certain climatic environments but is seen throughout the country from Alaska to Florida. The adhesion of these products to the concrete is their initial problem where they tend to become unstuck. Then they peel back because they are not made of a rigid material. Their lack of hardness also leads to extensive damage to the domes.

The savings which are realized when originally purchasing the detectable warnings are lost when they must be replaced in a short period of time because they are no longer compliant or have become a tripping hazard.

By
Bruce Woolner

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