Coloured Concrete Safety Barriers

For the first time, coloured concrete safety barriers are ensuring safety on German roads – and enhancing their visual appeal, too. Instead of drab gray, three sections in green, ochre, red and yellow blend perfectly into the Baden-Wuerttemberg landscape. The liquid colours used for colouring the cast-in-situ concrete are based on the weather-stable inorganic pigments from specialty chemicals company Lanxess.

The K 1060 in the Böblingen region of Germany connects the town of Renningen and its industrial areas to the general road network. The regional road redevelopment required providing protective measures at various points. Coloured cast-in-situ concrete was found to be the most sustainable solution to ensure the desired colour effect would not be impaired by unavoidable damage. The idea of using different colours for individual sections was also developed to make them blend into the surroundings more effectively.

The three sections of the pilot project have a total length of around half a kilometre.

A total of 180 cubic meters of concrete were used for the pilot project. A truck mixer load of approximately eight cubic meters was sufficient for 20 to 25 meters of concrete safety barrier. Lanxess sees significant market potential in this area. Towns and cities and local authorities could put coloured curbs directly out to tender for parking zones and hazardous areas. Unlike classic paint, coloured concrete does not require any maintenance. Coloured exposed concrete sections made of cast-in-situ concrete create a visual impact and can separate different areas such as bus lanes, crossings and cycle paths clearly and durably, thus boosting safety.