Implementation of AASHTO’s - Transportation.orgsp.scote.transportation.org/Documents/2016 SCOTE...

April 4, 2011 ITE Technical Conference

Lake Buena Vista, Fl

Implementation of AASHTO’s

Manual for Assessing Safety

Hardware (MASH) 2016

Update from the Technical Committee on Roadside Safety

Andy Casey, Georgia DOT



MASH 2016

Overview

Background

Ballot Results/Dates

MASH Implementation Agreement

Availability of MASH Hardware

Anticipated Costs

Implementation Needs

Available Resources



Overview Technical Committee on Roadside Safety

– Role in AASHTO

– Responsibilities – RDG & MASH publication

MASH vs. Roadside Design Guide (RDG)

– MASH: assessment of roadside hardware

– RDG: use of roadside hardware

Roadside hardware:

– Barriers, crash cushions, work-zone devices, bridge

rails, signing/lighting supports, etc.



Background

NCHRP Report 350 (1993) to MASH 2009

MASH 2009 to MASH 2016

MASH 2009 Implementation Agreement



NCHRP 350 to MASH 2009

(Revolution)

Knowledge gained from use of devices and

test methods

Advances in the science of crash testing

Additional tests and evaluation criteria

Changes in nationwide vehicle fleet



MASH 2009 to MASH 2016

(Evolution)

Major change: Crash testing criteria for

cable barriers on slopes

Minor changes:

– Soil strength testing

– Improved documentation of vehicle damage

– Longer tractor-trailer lengths



MASH 2009 Implementation

Agreement

Did not sunset use of NCHRP 350 hardware

Anticipated manufacturers would take the

initiative to develop MASH-compliant

devices (but this didn’t happen)



MASH 2016 Ballot Results/Dates

TCRS – final draft approved April 13th

SCOD – passed May 18th

SCOH – pending

MASH 2016 publish date?



MASH 2016 Implementation

Agreement Implemented in January

Additional safety benefits of MASH could only be

realized if new hardware was developed

Incentive: sunset NCHRP 350 criteria for new

devices

Joint FHWA/AASHTO/TCRS group formed, final

agreement issued on 1/7/2016

“Staggered” implementation approach



Overview - Agreement Details

The AASHTO Technical Committee on

Roadside Safety will continue to be

responsible for developing and maintaining

the evaluation criteria as adopted by

AASHTO. FHWA will continue its role in

issuing letters of eligibility of highway safety

hardware for federal-aid reimbursement.




Agencies are urged to establish a process

to replace existing highway safety hardware

that has not been successfully tested to

NCHRP Report 350 or later criteria.




Agencies are encouraged to upgrade

existing highway safety hardware to comply

with the 2016 edition of MASH either when it

becomes damaged beyond repair, or when

an individual agency’s policies require an

upgrade to the safety hardware.




For contracts on the National Highway

System with a letting date after the sunset

dates, only safety hardware evaluated using

the 2016 edition of MASH criteria will be

allowed for new permanent installations

and full replacements.



Overview - Sunset Dates

– December 31, 2017: w-beam barriers and

cast-in-place concrete barriers

– June 30, 2018: w-beam terminals

– December 31, 2018: cable barriers, cable

barrier terminals, and crash cushions

– December 31, 2019: bridge rails, transitions, all

other longitudinal barriers (including portable

barriers installed permanently), all other

terminals, sign supports, and all other

breakaway hardware




Temporary work zone devices, including

portable barriers, manufactured after

December 31, 2019, must have been

successfully tested to the 2016 edition of

MASH. Such devices manufactured on or

before this date, and successfully tested to

NCHRP Report 350 or the 2009 edition of

MASH, may continue to be used throughout

their normal service lives.




Regarding the federal-aid eligibility

of highway safety hardware,

after December 31, 2016:

– FHWA will no longer issue eligibility letters for

highway safety hardware that has not been

successfully crash tested to the 2016 edition of

MASH.

– continued




– Modifications of eligible highway safety

hardware must utilize criteria in the 2016 edition

of MASH for re-evaluation and/or retesting.

– Non-significant modifications of eligible

hardware that have a positive or

inconsequential effect on safety performance

may continue to be evaluated using finite

element analysis.




Longitudinal w-beam barrier and cast-in-place

concrete barrier (12/31/17):

– Able to be ready for sunset dates as long as each

state does not need to test own configuration

– Many w-beam systems have been tested

– Some cast-in-place concrete systems may need

additional tests

W-beam terminals (6/30/2018)




Cable barriers, cable barrier terminals, crash

cushions (12/31/2018)

– Expect cable barrier to be ready

– Cable terminals will be more challenging but are

also expected to be ready

– Some transitions require testing

– Crash cushions should be ready; thrie-beam

bullnose testing needs to be funded soon




Bridge rails, transitions, all other longitudinal

barriers and terminals; all breakaway

hardware (12/31/2019) Many types of bridge rails in use among the states;

testing needs not yet fully known

NCHRP 20-7 project to evaluate “grandfathering” of

historical bridge rail designs

NCHRP 03-119 project to examine sign supports and

breakaway hardware



NCHRP 03-119

Objective

– Identify and evaluate the crash performance of

breakaway sign and luminaire supports and

crashworthy work-zone traffic control devices

that are non-proprietary and commonly used

– Evaluation to address in-service safety

performance, potential failure modes, design

modifications, and likelihood to comply with

MASH test criteria



NCHRP 03-119

Phase I

– Identify non-proprietary designs

– Compile and Review available crash test results

(MASH and 350)

– Collect information of these designs not

performing as intended in a crash

– Recommend designs for further evaluation

– Prepare Phase 1 technical report



NCHRP 03-119

Phase 2

– Perform finite element modeling simulations to

identify potential problems in meeting MASH

– Conduct full-scale crash tests to corroborate the

simulation results

– Identify potential changes to the designs

– Assess how to reduce costs for crash testing

under MASH

– Prepare Final Report



Availability of MASH Hardware MASH-compliant NCHRP 350 devices

– Guardrail: 29-inch W-beam system (TL-3)

31-inch Midwest Guardrail System (TL-3)

– Concrete Barrier: 32-inch cast-in-place barrier (TL-3)

36-inch cast-in-place barrier (TL-4)

F-Shape portable concrete barrier with 3-loop connection (TL-3)

New MASH hardware

– FHWA eligibility reviews

– Testing Laboratory Capacity



Anticipated Costs

Testing of non-proprietary devices

• NCHRP, pooled-fund programs, individual states

(unique designs they may use)

MASH-compliant longitudinal barrier systems

• Multiple systems currently available (various types)

• No noted increase in cost vs. previous systems

MASH-compliant terminals

• Few systems currently available

• Initial increase in cost ($200-$700)



Implementation Needs

MASH hardware catalog

Sharing state QPLs

Sharing draft state policies

Encourage pooled fund participation!

– Midwest Pooled Fund (Univ. of Nebraska)

– Roadside Pooled Fund (Texas A&M)



GDOT’s MASH ImplementationJanuary 1, 2016: 31-inch height W-beam guardrail and NCHRP 350 or MASH

tested end-treatments on GDOT QPL shall be installed as outlined below:

1. New construction, widening and/or reconstruction: New permanent

installations and full replacements.

2. Resurfacing, Restoration, Rehabilitation (3R) and Pavement

Reconstruction: Where the existing guardrail height is less than 27 ¾ inches.

3. Preventative Maintenance (PM) activities: Where the existing guardrail

height is less than 27 ¾ inches. PM activities will either address needed

upgrades during the course of work or identify needed upgrades to be

addressed with:

– Future scheduled 3R project, or

– Future scheduled pavement reconstruction work, or

– Future standalone guardrail project, or

– Future programmed roadway project, or

– District Maintenance Contract.



GDOT’s MASH Implementation4. Repairs:

a) The repair of more than 25 ft (>25 ft) of damaged W-beam guardrail where

the height is less than 27 ¾” shall be replaced at 31-inch height.

b) If an existing end-treatment is connected to >25 ft of damaged W-beam

guardrail that is less than 27 ¾” in height, then the end-treatment shall be

replaced at 31-inch height along with the W-beam guardrail.

c) The repair of 25 ft or less (≤ 25 ft) of W-beam guardrail may match existing

guardrail height. This 25 ft represents two 12 ½-ft W-beam panels or one

25 ft W-beam panel.

d) Damaged end-treatments shall be replaced with NCHRP 350 or MASH

accepted products according to the manufacturers installation manual.

e) A decision to replace a whole run of guardrail during a repair will be the

discretion of the Department’s engineer in the field.



GDOT’s MASH ImplementationJune 30, 2018: All new installations and replacements of W-beam end-treatments

shall meet MASH testing standards.

December 31, 2018: All new installations and replacements of cable barriers,

cable barrier terminals, and crash cushions shall be MASH testing standards.

December 31, 2019:

1. All new installations and replacements of bridge rails, transitions, longitudinal

barriers (including portable barriers installed permanently), all other terminals,

sign supports, and all other breakaway hardware shall be MASH testing

standards.

2. Temporary work zone devices, including portable barriers, manufactured after

December 31, 2019, must have been successfully under MASH requirements.

Such devices manufactured on or before this date, and successfully tested to

NCHRP Report 350 or the 2009 edition of MASH, may continue to be used

throughout their normal service lives.



Available Resources

Task Force 13 Barrier Hardware Guide

– http://www.aashtotf13.org/Barrier-Hardware.php

FHWA website of crash-tested hardware

– http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/policy_

guide/road_hardware/



Questions?

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