The only toy that challenges Barbie for world-wide dominance is Lego. Lego is so popular, in fact, that the state Department of Transportation uses them on the highways. Plastic or concrete?
DOT undividedJust kidding. These highway barriers only look and act like Legos. Made in different colors of high-impact plastic and designed to clip together, they're adding a festive look to highway construction all over the island.
"The primary place we're using them, actually, is along the rusted-out portions of the guard rail on Kalanianaole Highway, between Sandy Beach and Koko Head," said transportation spokeswoman Marilyn Kali. "That's because the base footprint isn't as wide as the regular concrete Jersey barriers. The road is narrow there, and we wanted to encroach as little as possible."
The state rents the units from Safety Systems Hawaii on Waiakamilo Road.
"They're called The Guardian Safety Barriers," said Safety Systems purchasing agent Sitina Atonio. "They're imported from the mainland."
The Guardian base footprint is two-feet-wide, while Jersey barriers are three feet. The hollow plastic, ribbed for strength, can be filled with water to add weight and stability. There are plugs on top and bottom for filling and draining.
"The contractors fill them with water, but we've had to refill a couple of them," said Kali. "They either leaked, or somebody let the water out as a prank."
Burl Burlingame, Star-Bulletin
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