Investigation of Material Requirements for Highway Guardrail Specifications

Recent years have seen an increased focus on the performance of roadside hardware. As the use of High-Tension Cable Barrier (HTCB) systems increased across the United States, the transportation industry determined a research need to summarize the state of practice for HTCB systems. NCHRP Synthesis Report 493: Practices for High-Tension Cable Barriers initiated this research by engaging state DOTs to identify and report on the current state of practice for HTCB systems. Information collected included state DOT specifications, special provisions, design standards, and installation and maintenance concerns. Additionally, information was obtained from HTCB systems manufacturers since HTCB systems eligible for use on U.S. public roads are proprietary. The conclusions from NCHRP Synthesis 493 summarized practices for any agency considering creating or modifying its own specification or special provision for HTCB. However, research was needed to develop draft specifications for the materials used in HTCB systems. Under NCHRP Project 22-40, “Update to AASHTO M 180-18 and Associated Highway Guardrail Specifications,” Roadsafe, LLC was asked to conduct the project objective in two phases. The research findings from Phase I led to the publication of NCHRP Research Report 1020: Investigation of Material Requirements for Highway Guardrail Systems. In Phase II, Roadsafe LLC was asked to develop a guide with a proposed Recommended HTCB Acceptance Plan that catalogs standard materials and components used in HTCB systems. The development of this guide was based on the work plan that included: (1) a comprehensive review of AASHTO M 30-15 and its associated AASHTO and ASTM standards; (2) a state of practice survey and interviews to identify state DOTs using HCTB systems in medians or roadsides; (3) revisions to the Cable Barrier Acceptance Plan to facilitate efficient implementation methods for field inspection, manufacturer certification, independent lab certification, and sampling and testing by the owner; and (4) proposed draft language for consideration by AASHTO to incorporate in the next update of the AASHTO M 30-15. In addition to the guide published as NCHRP Research Report 1156, two deliverables are available on the TRB website at trb.org by searching for NCHRP Research Report 1156. The deliverables are as follows: Dissemination and Implementation Plan for Applying Research Findings and Products into Practice: Recommended HTCB Acceptance Plan Summary of Research and Findings: A Project Overview Presentation

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=4586
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Research is complete. Published as NCHRP Research Report 1156: Material Requirements for Highway High-Tension Cable Barrier: A Guide. This was a continuation project, for which the research was published as NCHRP Research Report 1020. n addition to the guide published as NCHRP Research Report 1156, two deliverables are available on the TRB website at trb.org by searching for NCHRP Research Report 1156. The deliverables are as follows: Dissemination and Implementation Plan for Applying Research Findings and Products into Practice: Recommended HTCB Acceptance Plan; Summary of Research and Findings: A Project Overview Presentation.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $550,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 22-40

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  McKenney, Christopher

• Performing Organizations:

  Roadsafe LLC

  ,    
• Principal Investigators:

  Plaxico, Chuck

• Start Date: 20220701
• Expected Completion Date: 20241006
• Actual Completion Date: 20250701

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Guardrails; Highways; Materials; Specifications; Standards; Traffic barriers
• Identifier Terms: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Materials; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01672564
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 22-40
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Jun 19 2018 12:46PM