Roadside Safety Device Analysis, Testing, and Evaluation Program [Project Title]

US Transportation Collection2021PDFTech ReportBligh, Roger P.Schulz, Nathan D.Menges, Wanda L.Schroeder, WilliamKuhn, Darrell L.Texas A&M Transportation InstituteTexas. Dept. of Transportation. Research and Technology Implementation OfficeUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway AdministrationTexas A&M Transportation InstituteTexasUnited StatesCrash testsSign supportsWork zone traffic controlWork zonesTraffic controlRoadside hazardsTemporary SignSupport StructuresRoadside SafetyMASHFHWA/TX-21/0-6968-R3Project 0-6968September 2017\u2013August 2020Previous crash testing determined that the conventional Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) single-post skid-mounted sign support did not satisfy guidelines included in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). Modifications were made to the system to improve impact performance and meet MASH requirements. The modifications included increasing mounting height of the sign, installing weakening holes in the wood support post at a prescribed height, and adding a wire rope loop around the weakening holes to act as a hinge mechanism when sections of the wood sign support fracture during vehicle impact. Crash tests were performed on the modified TxDOT single-post skid-mounted sign support system in accordance with the MASH Test Level 3 (TL-3) matrix for work-zone traffic control devices. This report provides details of the modified TxDOT single-post skid-mounted sign support, the crash tests and results, and the performance assessment of the modified TxDOT single-post skid-mounted sign support for MASH TL-3 work-zone traffic control device evaluation criteria. The modified TxDOT single-post skid-mounted sign support with 90-inch sign mounting height, weakening holes, and tether cable met the performance criteria for MASH TL-3 work-zone traffic control devices.125