Permanent Signs Mounted on Median Barriers (2014)

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29 APPENDIX A NCHRP Synthesis Topic 44-14 Survey Questionnaire In order to increase capacity and improve safety, transportation agencies are increasing the use of rigid median barriers to separate opposing traffic lanes on divided highways. Due to limited space in the median, a variety of permanent highway signs are often mounted within or on top of rigid median barriers. These include large overhead sign support structures and relatively smaller sin- gle-post sign support structures. There are few specific details and guidelines for installing sign support structures on rigid median barriers. Rigid median barriers are typically constructed of concrete with varying height, width, and cross-sectional shape. As a result, many existing installations may be somewhat unique, having been designed on a case-by-case basis. This questionnaire is part of an effort in NCHRP Synthesis Topic 44-14 to gather relative information on agency practices for mounting permanent signs on rigid median barriers. We are interested in the input and opinions of all agencies, regardless of the number and type of installa- tions previously used, or which currently exist, or are planned within their jurisdictions. Your valuable experience will help identify the range of techniques implemented and assist in determining potential needs for additional guidance in this area. The questionnaire has 11 questions. Trial use in a survey pretest shows that the questionnaire can be easily completed within 20 minutes. Please complete the questionnaire by March 8, 2013. Disclaimer Statement: Answers provided in response to this NCHRP questionnaire will be compiled and presented anony- mously, and the final report will be written in a manner that does not expose any owner agencies or their agents to liability concerns. The following definitions are used in this questionnaire: – Breakaway: A design feature that allows a sign support to yield, fracture, or separate near the base of the support on impact. – Overhead Sign: A sign suspended over the roadway by either a cantilever or bridge support. – Sign Support: Structural members, either horizontal or vertical, and anchoring components designed to carry the loads induced by attached signs. – Small Roadside Sign: Roadside sign with sign area less than or equal to 5 m2 (54 ft2). – Zone of Intrusion (ZOI): The region measured above and beyond/behind the face of a barrier system where an impacting vehicle or any major part of the system may extend during an impact. Further description and diagrams of ZOI are shown in the AASHTO Roadside Design Guide, 4th ed., 2009, Chapter 5. If you have any questions, please contact the Principal Investigator, Eric C. Lohrey, P.E. Email: Eric@ECLengineering.com Phone (518) 623-3457 Please identify your contact information. NCHRP will e-mail you a link to the online report when it is completed. Agency: __________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ City: _____________________________________________________________ State: ____________________________________________________________ ZIP: _____________________________________________________________

30 Questionnaire Contact: ______________________________________________ Position/Title: _____________________________________________________ In case of questions and for NCHRP to send you a link to the final report, please provide: Tel: ______________________________________________________________ E-mail: ___________________________________________________________ Section 1: Types of Rigid Median Barriers 1. What types of rigid median barriers are currently in service within your agency’s divided highway network? …… F-Shape Median Barrier, 813 mm [32 in.] High, (Designation SGM10a). …… F-Shape Median Barrier, 1,067 mm [42 in.] High, (Designation SGM10b). …… Safety(NJ)-Shape Median Barrier, 813mm [32 in.] High, (Designation SGM11a). …… Safety(NJ)-Shape Median Barrier, 1,067 mm [42 in.] High, (Designation SGM11b). …… Tall-Wall Median Barrier, 1,067 mm [42 in.] High, (Designation SGM12). …… Single-Slope Median Barrier, 813 mm [32 in.] High. …… Single-Slope Median Barrier, 1,067 mm [42 in.] High. …… Vertical Wall Median Barrier, 813 mm [32 in.] High. …… Vertical Wall Median Barrier, 1,067 mm [42 in.] High. …… Other, Description: _______________________________________ , Height: __________________. …… Other, Description: _______________________________________ , Height: _________________. Section 2: Overhead Sign Supports Mounted within or on top of Rigid Median Barriers Photo Example of an Overhead Sign Support Mounted within Rigid Median Barrier. Note: The sign panel message has been purposely blanked out.

31 2. Approximately how many existing overhead sign supports mounted within or on top of rigid median barriers are installed throughout your agency’s total divided highway network? Please enter a number, if known . If not, please estimate below. …… 300+ …… 100–299 …… 10–99 …… Fewer than 10 …… None …… Unknown 3. Does your agency have current or past standard plans, specifications, and/or design guidelines for construction of bridge or cantilevered overhead sign supports mounted within or on top of rigid median barriers? …… Yes …… No If yes to above, the project team would like to review these documents in order to compile and summarize common prac- tices for the Synthesis Report. Please use one of the three (3) methods below to provide access to pertinent current or past standard plans, specifications, and/or design guidelines for construction of bridge or cantilevered overhead sign supports mounted within or on top of rigid median barriers. a) Please upload documents here. If the file size is too large or the documents are in multiple files, please e-mail them to the Principal Investigator. Thank you. <upload option> b) Or provide an Internet URL: _______________________________________ c) Or provide contact information for obtaining standards and/or guidelines (name and e-mail address or telephone number is sufficient). _________________________________________________________________ 4. Does your agency have any project-specific plans and/or specifications for completed/existing bridge or cantilevered overhead sign supports mounted within or on top of rigid median barriers? …… Yes …… No If yes to above, the project team would like to review these documents in order to compile and summarize common practices for the Synthesis Report. Please use one of the three (3) methods below to provide access to pertinent project-specific plans and/or specifications for existing overhead sign supports mounted within or on top of rigid median barriers. a) Please upload documents here. If the file size is too large or the documents are in multiple files, please e-mail them to the Principal Investigator. Thank you. <upload option> b) Or provide an Internet URL: _______________________________________ c) Or provide contact information for obtaining standards and/or guidelines (name and e-mail address or telephone number is sufficient). _________________________________________________________________ 5. Please identify which design characteristics below have been used within your agency’s jurisdiction to improve crash safety performance of any existing overhead sign supports mounted within or on top of rigid median barriers. Please check all that apply.

32 ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Design Characteristic Comments ____________________________________________________________________________________________ …… LATERAL WIDENING OF THE BARRIER CROSS- SECTION IN THE VICINITY OF THE SIGN SUPPORT: This treatment is typically used to move the support laterally farther from the traffic face of the barrier to remove it from or reduce the severity of its position within the Zone of Intrusion (ZOI). …… VERTICAL TAPERING OF THE TOP OF THE BARRIER PROFILE IN THE VICINITY OF THE SIGN SUPPORT: This treatment gradually raises the height of the barrier on both sides of the sign support in an effort to reduce the ZOI of an impacting vehicle in the vicinity of the support. …… TRANSITIONING TO A DIFFERENT TYPE OF BARRIER IN THE VICINITY OF THE SIGN SUPPORT: For example, transitioning from safety-shape barrier to vertical wall at the support location and then back to safety-shape. This treatment is also intended to reduce the ZOI at the support location. ……MODIFYING THE BARRIER BY ATTACHING A METAL BEAM RAIL TO THE TRAFFIC FACE OF THE BARRIER IN THE VICINITY OF THE SIGN SUPPORT: An example is shown in Chapter 6, Figure 6-12 of the AASHTO Roadside Design Guide, 4th edition, 2011. This type of treatment is also intended to reduce the ZOI at the support location. …… ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR A SIGN SUPPORT BY MOVING THE SIGN LOCATION SUCH THAT IT IS SUPPORTED BY AN EXISTING STRUCTURE (BRIDGE, LUMINAIRE, OTHER SIGN SUPPORT, ETC.): This treatment is encouraged, where possible, in the AASHTO Roadside Design Guide, 4th ed., 2011. …… OTHER: Treatments that have been incorporated into existing installations that are intended to improve safety performance of a barrier/sign support installation. Please describe. …… NONE or UNKNOWN: No known treatments have been incorporated into existing installations that are intended to improve safety performance of a barrier/sign support installation. 6. Additional Information Sources: Does your agency have any of the following materials available related to existing overhead sign supports mounted within or on top of rigid median barriers? Please check all that apply. …… Photos …… Highway Photo Log Images …… Asset Management/Inventory Data …… Installation Location Information (Route/Direction/Milepost or GPS) …… Accident Experience Information

33 …… Other Information (Please describe) …… None If any item other than “None” is checked above, the project team would like to review this information in order to compile and summarize common practices for the Synthesis Report. Please use one of the three (3) methods below to provide access to pertinent additional information sources for existing overhead sign supports mounted within or on top of rigid median barriers. a) Please upload documents here. If the file size is too large or the documents are in multiple files, please e-mail them to the Principal Investigator. Thank you. <upload option> b) Or provide an Internet URL: _______________________________________ c) Or provide contact information for obtaining standards and/or guidelines (name and e-mail address or telephone number is sufficient). _________________________________________________________________ Section 3: Permanent Small Roadside Sign Supports Mounted on Rigid Median Barriers Photo Examples of Permanent Small Sign Supports Mounted on Rigid Median Barriers. Note: The mileage marker sign panel has been purposely blanked out. 7. Approximately how many existing, permanent small sign supports mounted on top of rigid median barriers are installed throughout your agency’s total divided highway network? Please include mile markers, or similar small signs, if they utilize a post or separate support. Do not include lightweight mile markers or delineators/reflectors that are typically self-supported (no post) and less than 0.05 m2 [0.5 ft2] in panel area. Please enter a number, if known . If not, please estimate below. …… 1000+ …… 500–999 …… 100–499 …… 10–99 …… Fewer than 10 …… None …… Unknown

34 8. Does your agency have current or past standard plans, specifications, and/or design guidelines for construction of per- manent small sign supports mounted on top of rigid median barriers? These include mile markers or similar small signs that utilize a post or support. …… Yes …… No If yes to above, the project team would like to review these documents in order to compile and summarize common practices for the Synthesis Report. Please use one of the three (3) methods below to provide access to pertinent current or past stan- dard plans, specifications, and/or design guidelines for construction of permanent small sign supports mounted on top of rigid median barriers. These include mile markers or similar small signs that utilize a post or support. a) Please upload documents here. If the file size is too large or the documents are in multiple files, please e-mail them to the Principal Investigator. Thank you. <upload option> b) Or provide an Internet URL: _______________________________________ c) Or provide contact information for obtaining standards and/or guidelines (name and e-mail address or telephone number is sufficient). _________________________________________________________________ 9. Does your agency have any project-specific plans and/or specifications for completed/existing permanent small sign supports mounted on top of rigid median barriers? These include mile markers or similar small signs that utilize a post or support. …… Yes …… No If yes to above, the project team would like to review these documents in order to compile and summarize common practices for the Synthesis Report. Please use one of the three (3) methods below to provide access to project-specific plans and/or specifications for completed/existing permanent small sign supports mounted on top of rigid median barriers. These include mile markers or similar small signs that utilize a post or support. a) Please upload documents here. If the file size is too large or the documents are in multiple files, please e-mail them to the Principal Investigator. Thank you. <upload option> b) Or provide an Internet URL: _______________________________________ c) Or provide contact information for obtaining project-specific plans and/or specifications (name and e-mail address or telephone number is sufficient). _________________________________________________________________ 10. Please identify which design characteristics below have been used within your agency’s jurisdiction to improve crash safety performance of any existing small sign supports mounted on top of rigid median barriers. Please check all that apply. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Design Characteristic Comments ____________________________________________________________________________________________ …… VERTICAL TAPERING OF THE TOP OF THE BARRIER PROFILE IN THE VICINITY OF THE SIGN SUPPORT: This treatment gradually raises the height of the barrier on both sides of the sign support in an effort to reduce the ZOI of an impacting vehicle in the vicinity of the support. …… LATERAL WIDENING OF THE BARRIER CROSS- SECTION IN THE VICINITY OF THE SIGN

35 SUPPORT: This treatment is typically used to move the support laterally farther from the traffic face of the barrier to remove it from or reduce the severity of its position within the ZOI. …… TRANSITIONING TO A DIFFERENT TYPE OF BARRIER IN THE VICINITY OF THE SIGN SUPPORT: For example, transitioning from safety-shape barrier to vertical wall at the support location and then back to safety-shape. This is also a treatment that may reduce the ZOI at the support location. ……MODIFYING THE BARRIER BY ATTACHING A METAL BEAM RAIL TO THE TRAFFIC FACE OF THE BARRIER IN THE VICINITY OF THE SIGN SUPPORT: An example is shown in Chapter 6, Figure 6-12 in the AASHTO Roadside Design Guide, 4th ed., 2011. This type of treatment is also intended to reduce the ZOI at the support location. …… USE OF BREAKAWAY SIGN SUPPORTS: Although this treatment is not typically recommended for barrier- mounted signs, there may be locations for which a designer determined that the benefits outweighed the risks for a unique situation. …… CHAMFER OR ROUND OFF SHARP EDGES OF THE SIGN SUPPORT: This treatment may be used to reduce snagging of the impacting vehicle, which may reduce the severity of the primary impact as well as the likelihood of the sign structure becoming dislodged. …… LIMIT PROJECTION HEIGHT OF ANCHOR BOLTS: This treatment may be used to reduce snagging of the impacting vehicle, which may reduce the severity of the primary impact as well as the likelihood of the sign structure becoming dislodged. …… EXTRA STRENGTHENING OF THE SIGN SUPPORT BEYOND THAT REQUIRED TO RESIST WIND LOADS: This treatment may be used to reduce the likelihood of the sign support becoming dislodged during a ZOI impact and therefore reduce the potential for creating secondary hazards. …… ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR A SIGN SUPPORT BY MOVING THE SIGN SUCH THAT IT IS SUPPORTED BY AN EXISTING STRUCTURE (BRIDGE, LUMINAIRE, OTHER SIGN SUPPORT, ETC.): This treatment is encouraged, where possible, in the AASHTO Roadside Design Guide, 4th ed., 2011. …… OTHER: Treatments that have been incorporated into existing installations that are intended to improve safety performance of a barrier/sign support installation. Please describe. …… NONE or UNKNOWN: No known treatments have been incorporated into existing installations that are intended to improve safety performance of a barrier/sign support installation.

36 11. Additional Information Sources: Does your agency have any of the following materials available related to existing small sign supports mounted on top of rigid median barriers? Please check all that apply. …… Photos …… Highway Photo Log Images …… Asset Management/Inventory Data …… Installation Location Information (Route/Direction/Milepost or GPS) …… Accident Experience Information …… Other Information (Please describe) …… None If any item other than “None” is checked, the project team would like to review this information in order to compile and summarize common practices for the Synthesis Report. Please use one of the three (3) methods below to provide access to pertinent additional information sources for existing small sign supports mounted on top of rigid median barriers. a) Please upload documents here. If the file size is too large or the documents are in multiple files, please e-mail them to the Principal Investigator. Thank you. <upload option> b) Or provide an Internet URL: _______________________________________ c) Or provide contact information for obtaining pertinent additional information (name and e-mail address or telephone number is sufficient). _________________________________________________________________ The survey questionnaire is complete! Thank you for your participation!

NEED SPINE WIDTH

92+ pages; Perfect Bind with SPINE COPY = 14 pts Permanent Signs Mounted on Median Barriers NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM NCHRP SYNTHESIS 465 N CH R P SYN TH ESIS 465 Perm anent Signs M ounted on M edian Barriers NEED SPINE WIDTH Job No. XXXX Pantone 202 C TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD 500 F ifth S treet, N .W . W ashing to n, D .C . 20001 A D D R ESS SER VICE R EQ UESTED TRB A Synthesis of Highway Practice