2014 ATSSA Mark Burkhead PENNDOT
2014 ATSSA Expo Guard Rail Committee Meeting Mark R. Burkhead, P.E. Standards and Criteria Engineer Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
www.dot.state.pa.us
• Guide Rail Height and Future System • Low Volume Roads
• MASH Implementation • Cable Barrier • Temporary Barrier
www.dot.state.pa.us
Terms • Design Manual, Part 2 Highway Design – DM-2
• Standards for Roadway Construction – RCs
www.dot.state.pa.us
Terms • Publication 35, Approved Construction Materials – Bulletin 15
• Publication 408, Highway Construction Specifications – 408
www.dot.state.pa.us
Stats How Big is This Animal • 40,000 miles • 55 ,000,000 L.F. Barrier • 49,000,000 L.F. W-Beam = 9,280 miles
www.dot.state.pa.us
“Guide” Rail • PennDOT 2-W Weak Post system • Legacy system – 30” to top of rail, post splice – Failed 350 test
• Re-design circa 2000 – Report 350 compliant – 32” to top of rail – Mid-span splice
• MASH tested and passed
www.dot.state.pa.us
Strong Post Guide Rail Height • PennDOT 2-S Strong Post – – – –
Originally 27” to top of rail Metric only, 550 to post bolt Dual units, 2111/16” to post bolt 27¾” to top of rail at last update
www.dot.state.pa.us
Height Issues • FHWA Memo from Office of Safety Design – May 17, 2010 – Addresses minimum mounting heights for Strong Post Guide Rail
• Initially looked at MGS
www.dot.state.pa.us
Strong Post Guide Rail Height • Texas DOT research project – 31” strong post with 8” offset block – FHWA eligibility letter issued – Further reduces changes in installation to height and splice location only
www.dot.state.pa.us
Strong Post Guide Rail Height • 31” Strong Post system – All existing hardware still used
www.dot.state.pa.us
Strong Post Guide Rail Height • 31” Strong Post system – Draft work in-progress
www.dot.state.pa.us
Strong Post Guide Rail Height • 31” BIB generic terminal design • New RSPF project
www.dot.state.pa.us
Low Volume Roads • Same Basic Barrier Standards – – – –
With some caveats 2-S and 2-W for W-beam rail TL-3 attenuators Cable (modern) not prohibited
www.dot.state.pa.us
Low Volume Roads • Type 2 Strong Post Terminal (Turndown) – Still permitted for low speed, low ADT (
www.dot.state.pa.us
• Guide Rail Height and Future System • Low Volume Roads
• MASH Implementation • Cable Barrier • Temporary Barrier
www.dot.state.pa.us
Terms • Design Manual, Part 2 Highway Design – DM-2
• Standards for Roadway Construction – RCs
www.dot.state.pa.us
Terms • Publication 35, Approved Construction Materials – Bulletin 15
• Publication 408, Highway Construction Specifications – 408
www.dot.state.pa.us
Stats How Big is This Animal • 40,000 miles • 55 ,000,000 L.F. Barrier • 49,000,000 L.F. W-Beam = 9,280 miles
www.dot.state.pa.us
“Guide” Rail • PennDOT 2-W Weak Post system • Legacy system – 30” to top of rail, post splice – Failed 350 test
• Re-design circa 2000 – Report 350 compliant – 32” to top of rail – Mid-span splice
• MASH tested and passed
www.dot.state.pa.us
Strong Post Guide Rail Height • PennDOT 2-S Strong Post – – – –
Originally 27” to top of rail Metric only, 550 to post bolt Dual units, 2111/16” to post bolt 27¾” to top of rail at last update
www.dot.state.pa.us
Height Issues • FHWA Memo from Office of Safety Design – May 17, 2010 – Addresses minimum mounting heights for Strong Post Guide Rail
• Initially looked at MGS
www.dot.state.pa.us
Strong Post Guide Rail Height • Texas DOT research project – 31” strong post with 8” offset block – FHWA eligibility letter issued – Further reduces changes in installation to height and splice location only
www.dot.state.pa.us
Strong Post Guide Rail Height • 31” Strong Post system – All existing hardware still used
www.dot.state.pa.us
Strong Post Guide Rail Height • 31” Strong Post system – Draft work in-progress
www.dot.state.pa.us
Strong Post Guide Rail Height • 31” BIB generic terminal design • New RSPF project
www.dot.state.pa.us
Low Volume Roads • Same Basic Barrier Standards – – – –
With some caveats 2-S and 2-W for W-beam rail TL-3 attenuators Cable (modern) not prohibited
www.dot.state.pa.us
Low Volume Roads • Type 2 Strong Post Terminal (Turndown) – Still permitted for low speed, low ADT (
