AARoads Forum

National Boards => General Highway Talk => Topic started by: Tom958 on February 07, 2021, 10:13:47 PM

Title: Interesting design for median bent guardrail
Post by: Tom958 on February 07, 2021, 10:13:47 PM
I don't know where exactly to post this, but I didn't want to let it pass without saying anything. It's an unusual treatment for the end condition of a median bent-protection guardrail. It's a thrie beam bullnose, which at first glance seems like a terrible idea due to its resilience, which could be catastrophic durning an end-on impact. However, I quickly noticed that the bullnose part has no posts! The thrie beam is perforated at the bends, making it likely to crumple under impact, especially without posts to provide additional resistance. There are also what appear to be cable rails attached to the back of the thrie beam, which must provide gentler restraint once the thrie beam gives way completely.

https://goo.gl/maps/hb6pvXnP2dhJtFTb7

It's pretty new. This 2016 Streetview (https://goo.gl/maps/DUFrMaYZ2Aqza9kE9) shows the now-replaced original bridge, with the median bent protected by a berm rather than guardrail.

Title: Re: Interesting design for median bent guardrail
Post by: Scott5114 on February 11, 2021, 08:04:36 PM
I found something similar on US-81 in York, Nebraska (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8202501,-97.5975155,3a,31.4y,337.04h,87.26t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sbSjWOmbBP9uPsfA7hrNIeg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656).
Title: Re: Interesting design for median bent guardrail
Post by: SkyPesos on February 11, 2021, 08:31:06 PM
Here's one at the I-64/364 interchange (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.7703395,-90.776734,3a,27.4y,177.31h,84.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sf9mOFtnSngPhlabrViPj8A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192)