1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

 Washington, D.C. 20590

May 13, 2013

FHWA: HSST: WLongstreet: sf: x60087:5/9/13

File: h://directory folder/HSST/B242_MEDOT_350TL4_3-Tube Bridge 

Rail.docx

cc: HSST Will Longstreet 

In Reply Refer To:

HSST/ B-242

Mr. Wayne Frankhauser

Maine Department of Transportation

16 State House Station

Augusta, ME 04333-0016

Dear Mr. Frankhauser:

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: Maine Department of Transportation (MEDOT) 

36-inch 3-Tube TL4 Bridge Rail

Type of system: Permanent Bridge Rail

Test Level: National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 350 TL-4

Testing conducted: ‘n/a’ 

Date of request: November 27, 2012

Date of completed package: May 8, 2013

Task Force 13 Designator: SBB45d

Decision

The following device is eligible, with details provided in the form which is attached as an 

integral part of this letter:

• MEDOT 36-inch 3-Tube TL4 Bridge Rail

Based on a review of original crash test results submitted by the State DOT certifying the device 

described herein meets the crash test and evaluation criteria of the National Cooperative 

Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 350, the subject modified 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.
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Requirements

To be found eligible for Federal-aid funding, roadside safety devices should meet the crash test 

and evaluation criteria contained in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program 

(NCHRP) Report 350 or 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.

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 letter provides a AASHTO/ARTBA/AGC Task Force 13 designator that should be 

used for the purpose of the creation of a new and/or the update of existing Task Force 13 

drawing for posting on the on-line ‘Guide to Standardized Highway Barrier Hardware’ 

currently referenced in AASHTO Roadside Design Guide.

• 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 NCHRP Report 350 criteria 

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 crash test and evaluation criteria of the NCHRP Report 350.

• To prevent misunderstanding by others, this letter of eligibility is designated as number 

B-242 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. 
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• 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.

Sincerely yours,

Michael S. Griffith

Director, Office of Safety Technologies

Office of Safety

Enclosures