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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation
FHWA Highway Safety Programs

Safety Eligibility Letter WZ-332

Hardware Type:
Work Zone Devices
Code:
WZ-332
Date:
Testing Criteria:
MASH
Manufacturer:
Professional Traffic Solutions
Device Description:
Professional Traffic Solutions Flashing Arrow Sign/ Barricade Combo
View PDF:
wz332.pdf (1.35 MB)

"FHWA Logo"

1200 New Jersey Ave. S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20590

March 24, 2014

In Reply Refer To:
HSST/WZ-332

Mr. Juan Banuelos
Professional Traffic Solutions
401 South Park Avenue, Suite B
Montebello, CA 90640

Dear Mr. Banuelos:

This letter is in response to your request for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to review a roadside safety system for eligibility for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program.

Name of system:

Professional Traffic Solutions Flashing Arrow Sign/
Barricade Combo

Type of system: Type III Barricade with arrow panel
Test Level:

MASH Test Level 3

Testing conducted by: KARCO Inc.
Date of request: October 28, 2013
Date initially acknowledged October 28, 2013
Date of complete package January 18, 2014

Decision:
The following device is eligible, with details provided in the form which is attached as an integral part of this letter:

  • Professional Traffic Solutions Flashing Arrow Sign /Type III Barricade Combo

Based on a review of crash test results submitted by the manufacturer certifying the device described herein meets the crash test and evaluation criteria of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH), the device is eligible for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program.  Eligibility for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program does not establish approval or endorsement by the FHWA for any particular purpose or use.

The FHWA, the Department of Transportation, and the United States Government do not endorse products or services and the issuance of a reimbursement eligibility letter is not an endorsement of any product or service.

Requirements
To be found eligible for Federal-aid funding, roadside safety devices should meet the crash test and evaluation criteria contained in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH).

Description
The device and supporting documentation are described in the attached form.

Work Zone Traffic Control Devices are typically tested in two orientations – head on, and perpendicular. In the case of your device, the Type III barricade with flashing arrow panel was impacted head-on only, but with the arrow panel deployed, and with the arrow panel lowered as when not in use. This satisfies the need to demonstrate successful performance in two different positions of the device.

In your first series of tests the vehicle impacted between the uprights of the Type III barricade. While this is the worst-case scenario for the barricade with the arrow panel, we requested testing where the vehicle contacts the upright support of the barricade. You had this test run successfully, and also tested your concrete-barrier-mounted arrow panel with successful results.

Summary and Standard Provisions
Therefore, the system described and detailed in the attached form is eligible for reimbursement and may be installed under the range of conditions tested.

Please note the following standard provisions that apply to FHWA eligibility letters:

  • This finding of eligibility does not cover other structural features of the systems, nor conformity with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
  • Any changes that may influence system conformance with MASH will require a new reimbursement eligibility letter.
  • Should the FHWA discover that the qualification testing was flawed, that in-service performance reveals safety problems, or that the system is significantly different from the version that was crash tested, we reserve the right to modify or revoke this letter.
  • You are expected to supply potential users with sufficient information on design and installation requirements to ensure proper performance.
  • You are expected to certify to potential users that the hardware furnished has the same chemistry, mechanical properties, and geometry as that submitted for review, and that it will meet the test and evaluation criteria of the MASH.
  • To prevent misunderstanding by others, this letter of eligibility is designated as number WZ-332 and shall not be reproduced except in full. This letter and the test documentation upon which it is based are public information. All such letters and documentation may be reviewed at our office upon request.
  • This letter shall not be construed as authorization or consent by the FHWA to use, manufacture, or sell any patented system for which the applicant is not the patent holder. The FHWA does not become involved in issues concerning patent law. Patent issues, if any, are to be resolved by the applicant.
  • The Professional Traffic Solutions barricade/arrow panel combination is a patented product and considered proprietary. If proprietary systems are specified by a highway agency for use on Federal-aid projects: (a) they must be supplied through competitive bidding with equally suitable unpatented items; (b) the highway agency must certify that they are essential for synchronization with the existing highway facilities or that no equally suitable alternative exists; or (c) they must be used for research or for a distinctive type of construction on relatively short sections of road for experimental purposes. Our regulations concerning proprietary products are contained in Title 23, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 635.411.
 

Sincerely yours,

/* Signature of Michael S. Griffith*/

Michael S. Griffith
Director, Office of Safety Technologies
Office of Safety