They are known by different names and are cheaper to install and more portable than concrete barriers. But over the last few years, agencies responsible for roadway maintenance have discovered a costly problem when it comes to plastic pylons. Also called delineators, channelizing devices or tubular markers, these traffic control devices offer an initial cost savings over concrete barriers. Over the long term, though, they can have a lot of unexpected costs.
Plastic pylons are those tall, thin, flexible devices used on roadsides to indicate lane edges in curves or, most often in larger cities, as a cheaper alternative to concrete barriers for lane separation in managed or HOV lanes. They started showing up on Texas roadways about 10 years ago and have grown in popularity owing to their relatively low installation costs. (Read More)