WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT OF A BRIDGERAIL RETROFIT PROGRAM

This paper describes the development of the Washington State Department of Transportation's (WSDOT) bridgerail retrofit program. Prior to 1984, other than a program to upgrade low-base aluminum rails, the department's informal policy on replacing substandard bridgerails was to incorporate a replacement in a highway construction project to obtain a desired roadway width mandated by accident history. Otherwise, bridgerails were exempted from a project even if the approach rails were upgraded. As a result of this new retrofit policy, substandard bridgerails are being upgraded systematically, on an individual project basis, as part of WSDOT's resurfacing, restoration, and rehabilitation (3R) program. The retrofit program was developed to provide a uniform policy for upgrading substandard bridgerails. This policy is used in conjunction with our past practice of replacing substandard bridgerails with a concrete New Jersey shaped barrier. Bridgerails addressed in the development of this program included open concrete baluster, steel post rails, and wooden rails. Systems considered for the retrofit program included W-beam, 12-gauge thrie beam, and 10-gauge thrie beam. In conjunction with this program, it was also important to develop appropriate approach rails and transition sections for these systems. The application of this bridgerail retrofit policy has proven to be of real value to the state of Washington. It provides a low-cost solution to retrofitting bridgerailing.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1988/1198/1198-004.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=WASHINGTON+STATE+DEPARTMENT+OF+TRANSPORTATION+DEVELOPMENT+OF+A+BRIDGERAIL+RETROFIT+PROGRAM&author=D.+Gripne&publication_year=1988
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1198, Roadside Safety Features. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Gripne, Don J
• Publication Date: 1988

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 45-54
• Monograph Title: Roadside safety features
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1198
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge approaches; Bridge railings; Policy; Retrofitting; Thrie beams
• Uncontrolled Terms: Programs; Transition zones; W beams
• Old TRIS Terms: Low costs
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Policy; Safety and Human Factors; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00490176
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309047722
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Dec 31 1989 12:00AM