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Home > Roadway Departure Safety > Policy/Guidance

Roadside Hardware Policy and Guidance

Federal-Aid Reimbursement Eligibility Process

Form to Request Eligibility for Federal Aid Reimbursement

FHWA Policy Memoranda on Roadside Hardware
Here’s where to find FHWA policy memoranda on roadside hardware.

Roadside Design: Steel Strong Post W-beam Guidance Memo
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.

NCHRP Report 350: Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Features:

• Part A [PDF 2.44 MB]
• Part B [PDF 1.26 MB]

FHWA policy defines crashworthy devices as those that have passed a crash test conducted under the procedures defined in NCHRP Report 350.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers About Roadside Safety Appurtenances
Questions and comments from State transportation agencies, industry, and the Federal Highway Administration.

• FAQs on Barriers, Terminals, and Bridge railings
• FAQs on Breakaway Sign and Luminaire Supports
• FAQs on FHWA Eligibility Letters for Roadside Safety Hardware
• FAQs on Work Zone Traffic Control Devices
• Clear Zone and Horizontal Clearance Frequently Asked Questions
• Breakaway Features for Sign Supports, Utility Poles and Other Roadside Features
• Bridge Railings
• Cable Barriers
• Concrete Barriers
• Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH)
• Median Barriers
• W-Beam Guardrail

The Roadside Design Guide was revised in 2011 and is available from the AASHTO bookstore at: https://bookstore.transportation.org/collection_detail.aspx?ID=105

Manufacturers
A collection of manufacturers that produce roadside hardware.

Search for Crashworthy Hardware (FHWA Hardware Acceptance)

To find hardware that has been tested for crashworthiness according to the NCHRP-recommended procedures, see:

• Longitudinal Barriers (also includes some Bridge Rails, Bridge Rail Transitions, and Guardrail Offset Blocks)
• Barrier Terminals/Crash Cushions
• Bridge Railings
• Breakaway Hardware
• Work Zone Devices
• Miscellaneous Hardware
• Laboratories with Experience in Testing Roadside Safety Hardware

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Program Contact

Nick Artimovich
Nick.Artimovich@dot.gov
202-366-1331

What’s New

Guidance memorandum on the Roadside Design Guide - 4^th Edition NEW!

Memorandum - Roadside Safety Hardware-Federal-Aid Reimbursement Eligibility Process NEW!

2009 MUTCD Compliance Dates Revised 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