U.S. Department 

of Transportation 

Federal Highway 

Administration 

November 22, 2021

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

In Reply Refer To: 

HSST-1/WZ-428 

Mr. Henry A. Ross 

Plasticade 

100 Howard Avenue, Des Plaines 

IL 60018 

USA 

Dear Mr. Ross: 

This letter is in response to your May 19, 2021 request for the Federal Highway Administration 

(FHWA) to review a roadside safety device, hardware, or system for eligibility for 

reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program. This FHWA letter of eligibility is 

assigned FHWA control number WZ-428 and is valid until a subsequent letter is issued by 

FHWA that expressly references this device. 

Decision 

The following device is eligible within the length-of-need, with details provided in the form 

which is attached as an integral part of this letter: 

• Plasticade ADA Pathcade Longitudinal Channelizers 

Scope of this Letter 

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

test and evaluation criteria contained in the American Association of State Highway and 

Transportation Officials’(AASHTO) Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). 

However, the FHWA, the Department of Transportation, and the United States Government do 

not regulate the manufacture of roadside safety devices. Eligibility for reimbursement under the 

Federal-aid highway program does not establish approval, certification or endorsement of the 

device for any particular purpose or use. 

This letter is not a determination by the FHWA, the Department of Transportation, or the United 

States Government that a vehicle crash involving the device will result in any particular 

outcome, nor is it a guarantee of the in-service performance of this device. Proper 

manufacturing, installation, and maintenance are required in order for this device to function as 

tested. 

This finding of eligibility is limited to the crashworthiness of the system and does not cover other 

structural features, nor conformity with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. 
 

 

 

2 

Eligibility for Reimbursement 

Based solely on a review of crash test results and certifications submitted by the manufacturer, 

and the crash test laboratory, FHWA agrees that the device described herein meets the crash test 

and evaluation criteria of the AASHTO’s MASH. Therefore, the device is eligible for 

reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program if installed under the range of tested 

conditions. 

• Name of system: Plasticade ADA Pathcade Longitudinal Channelizers 

Type of system: Work Zone 

Test Level: Test Level 3 

Testing conducted by: Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) 

Date of request: May 19, 2021 

FHWA concurs with the recommendation of the accredited crash testing laboratory on the 

attached form. 

Full Description of the Eligible Device 

The device and supporting documentation, including reports of the crash tests or other testing 

done, videos of any crash testing, and/or drawings of the device, are described in the attached 

form. 

Notice 

This eligibility letter is issued for the subject device as tested. Modifications made to the device 

are not covered by this letter. Any modifications to this device should be submitted to the user 

(i.e., state DOT) as per their requirements. 

You are expected to supply potential users with sufficient information on design, installation and 

maintenance 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 AASHTO’s MASH. 

Issuance of this letter does not convey property rights of any sort or any exclusive privilege. This 

letter is based on the premise that information and reports submitted by you are accurate and 

correct. We reserve the right to modify or revoke this letter if: (1) there are any inaccuracies in 

the information submitted in support of your request for this letter, (2) the qualification testing 

was flawed, (3) in-service performance or other information reveals safety problems, (4) the 

system is significantly different from the version that was crash tested, or (5) any other 

information indicates that the letter was issued in error or otherwise does not reflect full and 

complete information about the crashworthiness of the system. 
 

3 

Standard Provisions 

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

control number WZ-428 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 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. 

• This FHWA eligibility letter is not an expression of any Agency view, position, or 

determination of validity, scope, or ownership of any intellectual property rights to a 

specific device or design. Further, this letter does not impute any distribution or licensing 

rights to the requester. This FHWA eligibility letter determination is made based solely 

on the crash-testing information submitted by the requester. The FHWA reserves the 

right to review and revoke an earlier eligibility determination after receipt of subsequent 

information related to crash testing. 

Sincerely, 

Michael S. Griffith 

Director, Office of Safety Technologies 

Office of Safety 

Enclosures 
Page 1 of 5 

May 19, 2021 I 

Henry A. Ross 

Plasticade 

100 Howard Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60018 

U.S.A. 

Device & Testing Criterion - Enter from right to left starting with Test Level I ! - ! - ! I 

System Type Submission Type Device Name/ Variant Testing Criterion Test 

Level 

'WZ': Crash Worthy Work  Physical Crash Testing Plasticade'" ADA AASHTO MASH TL3

Zone Traffic Control Devices  Engineering Analysis

PathcadeTM Longitudinal 

Channelizers 

Contact Name: Henry A. Ross Same as Submitter 

Company Name: Plasticade Same as Submitter 

Address: 100 Howard Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60018 Same as Submitter 

Country: U.S.A. Same as Submitter 

Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) was contracted by Plasticade'" to perform full-scale crash testing of the 

Plasticade'" ADA PathcadeTM Longintudinal Channelizers. There are no shared financial interests in the 

Plasticade'" ADA PathcadeTM Longintudinal Channelizers by TTI, or between Plasticade'" and TTI, other than the 

costs involved in the actual crash tests and reports for this submission to FHWA. 

690900-PLP 23-24 

 Version 10.0 (05/16)

Submitter

Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility

of Highway Safety Hardware

 Date of Request: New Resubmission

Name:

Company:

Address:

Country:

Michael S. Griffith, Director To: FHWA, Office of Safety Technologies 

I request the following devices be considered eligible for reimbursement under the Federal-aid 

highway program.

By submitting this request for review and evaluation by the Federal Highway Administration, I certify 

that the product(s) was (were) tested in conformity with the AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety 

Hardware and that the evaluation results meet the appropriate evaluation criteria in the MASH.

Individual or Organization responsible for the product:

Enter below all disclosures of financial interests as required by the FHWA `Federal-Aid Reimbursement 

Eligibility Process for Safety Hardware Devices' document.
Page 2 of 5 

 New Hardware or

 Significant Modification

(' Modification to 

Existing Hardware 

The installation consisted of 34 Plasticade'" ADA PathcadeTM Longitudinal Channelizers connected end-to-end 

longitudinally. Each barrier was anchored by a 40 lb sandbag placed on each of the two traffic-side extended 

legs. The middle leg remained stowed during the tests. The barriers were approximately 69.4 inches wide and 

38 inches tall, with the deployed legs extending 17.3 inches. Total length of the installation was approximately 

196.6 ft. 

By signature below, the Engineer affiliated with the testing laboratory, agrees in support of this submission that 

all of the critical and relevant crash tests for this device listed above were conducted to meet the MASH test 

criteria. The Engineer has determined that no other crash tests are necessary to determine the device meets 

the MASH criteria. 

D. Lance Bullard, Jr., P.E. 

Engineer Signature: 

1254 Avenue A, Bldg 7091, Bryan, Texas 77807 Same as Submitter 

U.S.A. Same as Submitter 

 Version 10.0 (05/16)

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 

CRASH TESTING

Engineer Name:

Address:

Country:

 A brief description of each crash test and its result:
Page 3 of 5 

Required Test Narrative Evaluation 

Number Description Results 

MASH Test 3-90 involves an 11 00C vehicle 

weighing 2420 lb ± 55 lb impacting the CIP 

of the longitudinal channelizer at an impact 

speed of 62 mi/h ± 2.5 mi/h and an angle of 

0-25 degrees± 1 .5 degrees. The selected 

impact angle was 10 degrees. The CIP for 

MASH Test 3-90 on the Plasticade"' ADA 

PathcadeTM longitudinal channelizers was 

the centerline of the joint of channelizers 10 

and 11. 

The results of test 690900-PLP23 conducted 

on February 25, 2021 are found in TTI Test 

Report number 690900-PLP23-24. The 

1 1 00C vehicle weighed 2384 lb, and the 

actual impact speed and angle were 63.0 

mi/hand 9.3 degrees. The actual impact 

point was 6.2 inches downstream of the 

centerline of the joint of channelizers 10 

and 11. The minimum target kinetic energy 

(KE) was 141 kip-ft, and actual KE was 308 

kip-ft. 

The vehicle came to rest 247 ft downstream 

of the point of impact and 57 ft toward the 

field side with the application of the 

vehicle's brakes. 

Channelizers 1 through 8 and 20 through 34 

3-90 (1100C) were not damaged and remained in place PASS for the duration of the test. Channelizers 9 

through 11 remained attached but were 

pushed back towards the field side of the 

installation. Channelizer 12 landed 87 ft 

downstream and 8 ft toward the field side 

from impact. Channelizers 13 and 14 were 

trapped under the vehicle for the duration 

of the test. Channelizer 15 came to rest 173 

ft downstream and 3 ft towards the field 

side. Channelizer 16 landed 42 ft 

downstream and 18 ft towards the traffic 

side. Channelizer 17 remained upright, but 

was rotated clockwise, and was 41 ft 

downstream and 3 ft toward the traffic side. 

The joint of channelizers 18 and 19 was 

pushed 2 ft towards the field side. 

The vehicle sustained slight damage to the 

front bumper, hood, grill, right front 

headlight, and right rear bumper. No fuel 

tank damage was observed. Maximum 

exterior crush to the vehicle was 4.5 inches 

at the front bumper. No occupant 

compartment deformation or intrusion 

occurred. Occupant risk values were within 

MASH preferred limits. 

The device performed acceptably for MASH 

test 3-90. 

 Version 10.0 (05/16)
Page 4 of 5 

Required Test Narrative Evaluation 

Number Description Results 

MASH Test 3-91 involves a 2270P vehicle 

weighing 5000 lb± 110 lb impacting the CIP 

of the longitudinal channelizer at an impact 

speed of 62 mi/h ± 2.5 mi/h and an angle of 

0 25 degrees± 1.5 degrees. The selected 

impact angle was 10 degrees. The CIP for 

MASH Test 3-91 on the Plasticade"' ADA 

PathcadeTM longitudinal channelizers was 

the centerline of the joint of channelizers 10 

and 11. 

The results of test 690900-PLP24 conducted 

on February 26, 2021 are found in TTI Test 

Report number 690900-PLP23-24.The 2270P 

vehicle weighed 5053 lb, and the actual 

impact speed and angle were 63.8 mi/h and 

10.0 degrees. The actual impact point was 

10.2 inches upstream of the centerline of 

the joint of channelizers 10-11. The 

minimum target KE was 291 kip ft, and 

actual KE was 667 kip ft. 

The vehicle came to rest 297 ft downstream 

of the point of impact and 53 ft toward the 

field side with the application of the 

vehicle's brakes. 

Channelizers 1 through 9 and 20 through 34 

were not damaged and remained in place 

3-91 (2270P) for the duration of the test. Channelizer 1 O PASS 

remained attached to the installation, but 

was pushed towards the field side. 

Channelizer 11 landed 9 ft downstream and 

12 ft towards the field side from impact. 

Channelizer 12 came to rest 183 ft 

downstream and 41 ft towards the field 

side. Channelizer 13 fell 172 ft downstream 

and 35 ft towards the field side. Channelizer 

14 landed 152 ft downstream and 12 ft 

towards the field side. Channelizer 15 came 

to rest 187 ft downstream and 41 ft towards 

the field side. Channelizers 16 through 19 

were deformed, but remained attached to 

the installation and were pushed together 

into an accordion shape. 

The front bumper sustained scuff marks and 

a 3-inch x 5-inch tear located 19 inches to 

the right of centerline of the vehicle. No fuel 

tank damage was observed. No exterior 

crush to the vehicle was observed. No 

occupant compartment deformation or 

intrusion occurred. 

Occupant risk values were within MASH 

preferred limits. 

The device performed acceptably for MASH 

test 3-91. 

 Version 10.0 (05/16)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page 5 of 5 

Texas A&M Transportation Institute 

Laboratory Signature: 

1254 Avenue A, Bldg 7091, Bryan, Texas 77807 

~ Same as Submitter 

U.S.A Same as Submitter 

ISO 17025-2017 Laboratory 

A2LA Certificate Number: 2821.01 

Valid To: April 30, 2023 

 Version 10.0 (05/16)

Full Scale Crash Testing was done in compliance with MASH by the following accredited crash test

laboratory (cite the laboratory’s accreditation status as noted in the crash test reports.):

Laboratory Name:

Address:

Country:

Accreditation Certificate

Number and Dates of current

Accreditation period :

Submit Form

ATTACHMENTS

Attach to this form:

1) Additional disclosures of related financial interest as indicated above.

2) A copy of the full test report, video, and a Test Data Summary Sheet for each test conducted in 

support of this request. 

3) A drawing or drawings of the device(s) that conform to the Task Force-13 Drawing Specifications 

information provided on the reverse. Additional drawings (not in TF-13 format) showing details that

are relevant to understanding the dimensions and performance of the device should also be submitted

to facilitate our review.

FHWA Official Business Only:

Eligibility Letter

Number Date Key Words

[Hardware Guide Drawing Standards]. For proprietary products, a single isometric line drawing is 

usually acceptable to illustrate the product, with detailed specifications, intended use, and contact