TripStop would like to congratulate Mornington Peninsula Shire for using TripStop in its Pathlink project. TripStop is a cross shaped device that is encased in wet concrete, at intervals, to form articulation joints.
An Australian invention, TripStop separates the otherwise continuous concrete footpath into separate but linked slabs. It acts as a hinge that controls any displacement by combining the hinge with a shear connector. This reduces the likelihood of injury to pedestrians or cyclists.
Footpaths are usually built insitu as one continuous concrete mass. When subjected to forces caused by, for example, tree root invasion, soil movement or extreme temperature changes, the concrete cracks, either haphazardly or evenly at score lines across the width of the footpath.
After cracking has occurred the now separate concrete pieces are free to move independently and usually become misaligned or displaced. Because the gap between the footpath and a person’s foot when walking is so small – 6mm is considered to be a threshold level for a tripping hazard – it only takes a slight displacement to create a trip hazard.
Displaced concrete footpaths can cause enormous repair and legal costs, environmental damage and personal injury.
“There is cost factor in using TripStop,” said Tom Burk, Mornington Peninsula’s Pathlinks Project Manager. “But it will save us enormous costs in the long term through less maintenance. We didn’t use it in one section of the path which has already lifted, so now we have to rip this up and will definitely be using TripStop this time.”
He said it is particularly useful when the path is close to trees and other vegetation, or the area is subject to reactive or unstable drainage conditions.
“The TripStop solution is radically different,” said TripStop inventor, Peter McLean. “Rather than try to prevent roots from growing under pavements, which is not possible, or to make footpaths strong enough to resist trees, soil movement or extreme temperature changes which is also not practical, TripStop enables sidewalks to accommodate these forces, without causing misalignment or displacement, the danger to people.”
TripStop makes footpath trip hazards a thing of the past. For further information visit www.tripstop.net
