USA Banner
  U.S. flag
              An official website of the United States government Here's how you knowOfficial US Government Icon
              **Official websites use .gov**A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
            Secure Site Icon
              **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                  A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
 U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation
 Search DOT
            Search
                    About FHWAFHWA Organization
                Headquarters Offices
                Field Offices
                Strategic Plan
                Business Opportunities
                Staff Directories
                Careers
                Highway History
                Contact UsProgramsAcquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                Safety
                Browse by TopicsResourcesCore Highway Topics
                Federal Aid Essentials
                Automation
                Complete Streets
                Laws and Regulations
                Policy & Guidance Center
                Section 508
                Publications and Statistics
                Professional Development
                National Highway Institute
                Resource Center
                Accessibility Resource Library
                FHWA Research LibraryNewsroomPress Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Photos
                Videos
                Media ContactsMenu FHWA Highway Safety Programs Home
                        Safety
                        Roadway Departure Safety
                        Reduce Crash Severity


            
            In This Section
        Roadway Departure Safety
                Strategic Approach
                                Strategic Plan
                Crash Emphasis Brochures
                Focused Approach
                Noteworthy Practices
                Partner Resources
                Keep Vehicles on the Road
                                Pavement Friction
                Horizontal Curve Safety
                Rumble Strips and Rumble Stripes
                Nighttime Visibility
                Provide for a Safe Recovery
                                SafetyEdge
                Clear Zones
                Reduce Crash Severity
                                Overview
                Hardware Eligibility Letters
                Focus on Reducing Rural Roadway Departures (FoRRRwD)
                                Overview
                All Public Roads
                Proven Countermeasures
                Systemic Approach
                Safety Action Plans
                FoRRRwD Resources
                
                Memorandum: NCHRP Report 711 Guidance for the Selection, Use, and Maintenance of Cable Barrier Systems
memo112712.pdf (343.18 KB)
    
    
          **Subject: INFORMATION:** NCHRP Report 711: Guidance for the Selection, Use, and Maintenance of Cable Barrier Systems

**Date:** November 27, 2012

**From:** Michael S. Griffith
Director, Office of Safety Technologies
Office of Safety

**In Reply Refer To:** HSST

**To:** Division Administrators
Federal Lands Division Engineers
Safety Field

This memorandum responds to Recommendation H-11-24 from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and updates the July 20, 2007, Office of Safety memorandum "Cable Barrier Considerations." The 2007 memorandum listed a number of design factors that highway agencies need to consider when selecting, locating, installing, and maintaining cable roadside and median barriers. The memorandum noted that research was underway to address many of the gaps in our knowledge and understanding of cable barrier performance. The research was recently completed, and the NCHRP Report 711, "Guidance for the Selection, Use, and Maintenance of Cable Barrier Systems" has been published by the Transportation Research Board and is available for free download at:  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_rpt_711.pdf

NTSB Recommendation H-11-24 asked FHWA to**:**

Provide to state transportation agencies information from current research, such as National Cooperative Highway Research Program Project 22-25, *Development of Guidance for the Selection, Use, and Maintenance of Cable Barrier Systems*, about the safety risks associated with the installation of cable barrier systems that differs from the configuration of the system as designed and tested; information should include the risks associated with the dynamic deflection that may occur when installation distances between cable barrier anchorages differ from the 600-foot test length prescribed in  the *Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware.*

Report 711 resulted from Project 22-25 and is provided for the information of FHWA Division Offices and for State and local highway agencies that use, or are interested in using, cable barriers.  Of special note is Appendix E, "Summary of Recommended Guidelines," found at the end of Report 711.  This summary of guidance provides a solid basis for agencies that have been using cable barriers to update their practices to enhance safety performance or cost effectiveness of cable barrier systems, as well as to aid agencies interested in considering the use of cable barriers for the first time.  Whereas most barriers were crash tested on flat terrain with a length of 300 to 600 feet, many real world installations go for thousands of feet between anchors, are located on sloping embankments, are used in horizontal or vertical curves, etc.  The guidance in Report 711 should be consulted to account for these real world installation issues.



Page last modified on October 15, 2014 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Highway Administration**

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

202-366-4000Subscribe to email updates
                    About
  

        
              About FHWA
                Careers
                Org Chart
                Staff Directories
                Work with UsPrograms
  

        
              Acquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                SafetyPolicies, Rights, Legal
  

        
              About DOT
                Accessibility
                Budget and Performance
                Civil Rights
                FOIA
                Information Quality
                No FEAR Act
                Office of Inspector General
                Privacy Policy
                USA.gov
                Web Policies and Notices
                Web StandardsNews & Events
  

        
              Newsroom
                Press Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Media Contacts
                Connect with Us