NCHRP Report 350: Devices in Work Zones - Category 2

Barricades, Sign Stands

  • Cones with lights, Vertical Panels
  • Type I, Type II, Type III Barricades
  • Portable sign stands, including X-footprint
  • 100 km/hr crash testing is required, with reduced instrumentation
  • Deadline was October 1, 2000
  • Older devices may remain in use to the end of their normal service life

Pre 1998 devices are subject to state guidelines. Many states have already removed older devices from their projects. Some have yet to do so.

Cone with Vertical Panel and Light

photo of car driving through panels for work zone crash test

This shows the typical set up for a work zone device crash test. The 1800-pound vehicle, traveling at 100 km/hr, impacts the first device which is oriented properly. The next device is placed 6 meters downstream and is oriented perpendicular to the first. No low-speed testing is required for devices weighing less than 100 pounds that simply sit on the pavement.

Type II and Type III Baricades

The Type II is a proprietary plastic barricade, and the type III is the generic angle iron barricade. There are generic "angle-iron" Type II barricades also. Not all type II barricades have been crash tested with warning lights, so one must check the individual letters to see if they are acceptable. All crashworthy Type III barricades are acceptable with LIGHTWEIGHT warning lights (1.5 kg or less).

type II orange and white plastic barricade with 1 warning light type III orange and white plastic barricade with 2 warning lights

Portable Signs

ortable sign stands show the greatest number of variations in terms of steel or aluminum frame, sign size, height, sign substrate, flags. Most of the x-footprint stands that have been crash tested have used roll-up signs, but there have been a few with a breakaway feature at the base that can support rigid signs at 5 feet or higher.

portable black and orange construction sign that says - men working portable black and orange road sign that says - accident ahead

Portable signs–Michigan failure

portable road sign that says - road work ahead 62.5 mile per hour broken windshield of car after head on impact

Generic Design Head on impact was ok. 90 degree sliced both roof (corner of 48x48) and windshield (advisory plate).

Portable sign – Michigan Redesign

photo of test car (labled M1-3) and portable orange and black roadsign with person holding a flag photo of windshield of fron of car

Michigan redesign featured stiffer uprights, removal of advisory plate, and relocated light to corner to spread out force of impact on the roof. Minnesota has a design for low-mounted rigid signs that also had to be redesigned to feature stiffer uprights.

For Additional Information:

Nick Artimovich
FHWA - HSA-10
400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590
nick.artimovich@fhwa.dot.gov

Program Contact

John Dewar
Roadway Departure Team Leader

202-366-2218

What’s New

Proposed Revision of the 2009 MUTCD – Compliance Dates NEW!

FHWA Technical Advisory T 5040.40: Center Line Rumble Strips NEW!

FHWA Memo: Technical Advisories for Rumble Strips NEW!

Roadway Departure Safety Implementation Plans

Roadway Departure Countermeasures

Roadside Design: Steel Strong Post W-beam. A guidance memo was issued on May 17, 2010 on the height of guardrail for new installations. Guidance regarding existing guardrail will be developed in the next several months, in consultation with AASHTO's Technical Committee on Roadside Safety.

Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity Notice of Proposed Rulemaking [HTML, PDF]

MUTCD Text of the Proposed Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity Standard

Summary of the MUTCD Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity Standard

Revised Assessment of Economic Impacts of Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity

Publications

Low Cost Treatments for Horizontal Curve Safety

The Safety Edge