ET-2000 – End Treatment for Guardrail

The Trinity Industries, Inc., ET-2000 is a guardrail end treatment designed to absorb the kinetic energy of a vehicle upon impact. Forty-three ET-2000 systems were installed at sites along I-94 and I-894 in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Performance of the systems was evaluated after five years in service. Vehicle impacts with the ET-2000 systems were generally not severe. Only minor injuries were reported in several cases, and no fatalities occurred. No impact resulted in vehicle vaulting or spearing, problems that were noted with traditional guardrail designs. After an impact, repair to an ET-2000 system was relatively simple and did not require a high number of labor-hours. Maintenance crews did note a deficiency in the temporary reinstallation of extruder head terminals; however, it appears from current detail drawings that this problem has been resolved. The initial installation cost of the ET-2000 system is higher than traditional guardrail systems, but that cost is offset by improvements in safety offered by the ET-2000. In addition, the ET-2000 can be installed without embankment widening and other right of way constraints that are required with traditional systems. The ET-2000 has performed well in Wisconsin, and many of these models have been installed since the start of this research project. Continued use is recommended for the ET-2000 and subsequent Trinity Industries, Inc., models that conform to NCHRP Report 350.

• Record URL:
  • http://wisdotresearch.wi.gov/wp-content/uploads/wifep-03-07guardrailendtreatment.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Wisconsin Department of Transportation

  Division of Transportation System Development, 3502 Kinsman Boulevard
  Madison, WI  United States  53704-2507

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Bischoff, Debra L
  • Battaglia, Irene
• Publication Date: 2007-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; Maps; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: 17p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crashes; Design; Guardrail terminals; Guardrails; Installation; Performance; Repairing
• Identifier Terms: NCHRP Report 350
• Uncontrolled Terms: Guardrail end treatments
• Geographic Terms: Milwaukee County (Wisconsin)
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Safety and Human Factors; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01088297
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FEP-03-07, WisDOT FEP-94-01
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Feb 15 2008 4:00PM