Longitudinal Barriers, including Bridge Rail

General
A barrier is the longitudinal system located on either bridges, medians or along the roadside used to shield vehicles from potential hazards or work areas. There is a national standard to assure only those barriers meeting certain crash test criteria are installed.
Federal Requirements
  1. 23 CFR §625.3(a)(1)
    – Provides projects on the national highway system to be designed and constructed to FHWA-approved standards.
    23 CFR §625.3(d)
    states the standards are applicable regardless of the source of funds.
  2. 23 CFR §625.3(a)(2)
    – Requires federally funded projects not on the national highway system to be designed, constructed, operated and maintained in accordance with state laws, regulations, directives, safety standards, design standards and construction standards.
State Requirements
  1. 43 TAC §§5.59
    ,
    15.56
    ,
    26.33
    and
    27.56
    – Requires projects to be designed in accordance with TxDOT procedures, standards and guidelines. For RMA, toll and pass-through financed projects, preliminary design information must be sent to TxDOT for review and approval when the design is approximately 30 percent complete.
Required Practices
The
LGPM Guide
provides the required practices and the LG and TxDOT responsibilities for the provision of longitudinal barriers for a road or highway project.