Memorandum

Mr. Michael S. Griffith's April 9, 2003, memorandum (acceptance letter B-64D) identified several crash tested aesthetic roadside/median barriers and bridge railings that were developed in conjunction with Federal Lands Highway and the National Park Service. Since then, additional designs have been developed and successfully tested under NCHRP Report 350 guidelines or are similar to tested designs and considered to be equivalent. Information on the designs listed below was compiled by Cathy Satterfield, Safety Engineer, Central Federal Lands Highway Division, and was submitted for formal acceptance. Each design is acceptable for use on the NHS and is considered to meet NCHRP Report 350 evaluation criteria at the test levels indicated:

* Note that this transition is a modified version of the crash-tested design which was considered unacceptable due to occupant compartment intrusion resulting from wheel interaction with the timber rail /rubrail. The added curb creates a vertical transition profile that is similar to that of the successfully tested transition design for the Merritt Parkway aesthetic guiderail. The curb is expected to prevent the wheel from folding under the rail elements, reducing snagging to an acceptable level, and resulting in acceptable performance.

Additional drawings and specifications for the designs listed above will be posted at http://www.efl.fhwa.dot.gov/technology/abs.aspx under Aesthetic Barriers. In the meantime, anyone seeking detailed plans and specifications for any of these features, including cathy.satterfield@fhwa.dot.gov.

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