August 15, 2022

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

In Reply Refer To: 

HSST-1/WZ-447 

Greg Spear 

The Cortina Companies, Cortina Safety Products 

10706 West Grand Ave, 

Franklin Park, IL 60131 

United States of America 

Dear Mr. Spear: 

We received your correspondence of December 27, 2021 requesting issuance of a reimbursement 

eligibility letter under the Federal-aid highway program for the roadside safety system, device, 

design, product, or hardware (collectively “device”) described below. This letter is assigned 

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) control number WZ-447. 

ELIGIBILITY LETTERS 

The FHWA issues Federal-aid reimbursement eligibility letters for new roadside safety devices 

that are crash tested in accordance with the industry standard of the American Association of 

State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware 

(MASH). 

FHWA, the Department of Transportation, and the United States (government) do not regulate 

roadside safety devices, crash test facilities, or the manufacturing industry. Issuance of 

eligibility letters is discretionary and provided only as a service to the states. FHWA may, at its 

discretion, decline to issue, revise, or rescind an eligibility letter. Eligibility letters are only 

issued by the FHWA headquarters Office of Safety. 

Eligibility letters are issued only as notice to the states that a device is eligible for reimbursement 

under the Federal-aid highway program. They do not establish approval or certification for any 

other purpose. Issuance of an eligibility letter is not a prerequisite or requirement for state 

transportation agencies seeking to use Federal-aid funds for roadside safety devices. State 

agencies may use a device for which an eligibility letter has not been issued and seek Federal-aid 

reimbursement. 

FEDERAL-AID REIMBURSEMENT 

The request for issuance of this letter certified the device was crash tested in accordance with the 

industry standard of AASHTO’s MASH. This eligibility letter is based on that certification and 

the material offered in support of its issuance. The device described below is eligible for 

reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway program. 

1 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name of system: Cortina Plastx Type II Barricade 

Type of system: Work Zone 

Test Level: Test Level 3 

Testing conducted by: Applus IDIADA KARCO Engineering, LLC 

Date of request: December 27, 2021 

Information about the device, including material such as the eligibility request, crash test reports, 

drawings, or images are included in one or more attachment(s) to this letter. 

Eligibility letter WZ-447 is inapplicable to devices, optional equipment, alternate materials, or 

other features that were not crash tested in accordance with AASHTO’s MASH. 

This letter is issued only for the subject device as crash tested under AASHTO’s MASH. Later 

modification(s) of the device are not eligible for Federal-aid reimbursement under this letter. 

Notice of later modification(s) should be given to transportation agencies, facility owners, and 

operators (collectively “agencies”). 

Agencies should be provided appropriate information about the device’s design, installation, 

maintenance, materials, and mechanical properties. 

Issuance of this letter is discretionary, and it may be revised or rescinded at FHWA’s discretion. 

This letter is not a determination of compliance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control 

Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD) or ownership of any intellectual property rights. 

This eligibility letter is not a determination by the government that a crash involving the subject 

device will result in any particular outcome. It is limited to only the device’s eligibility for 

Federal-aid reimbursement. 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 

Issuance of this eligibility letter does not convey property rights of any sort nor any exclusive 

privilege. This letter is not authorization or consent by the government for the use, manufacture, 

or sale of any patented or proprietary system, device, design, product, or hardware for which the 

requester is not the patent owner. Eligibility letters are not an expression of any view, position, 

or determination by the government as to the validity, scope, or ownership of any intellectual 

property rights to a specific device. These letters do not grant, impute, suggest, or otherwise 

establish any ownership, distribution, or licensing rights to the requester. The government 

expresses no opinion about the intellectual property rights relating to any device for which this or 

any other eligibility letter is issued. 

PUBLIC DISCLOSURE 

To prevent any misunderstanding, and as discussed above, this eligibility letter is assigned 

FHWA control number WZ-447. It should only be reproduced in full with its attachment(s). 

This letter and the material offered by the requester supporting its issuance is public information. 

All eligibility letters and supporting material are subject to public disclosure under the Freedom 

2 
of Information Act (FOIA). Eligibility letters are available to the public at 

https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/countermeasures/reduce_crash_severity/. 

If you have any questions please contact Aimee Zhang at Aimee.Zhang@dot.gov. 

Sincerely, 

Michael S. Griffith 

Director, Office of Safety Technologies 

Office of Safety 

Enclosures 

3 
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Page 1 of 4

Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility

of Highway Safety Hardware

Submitter

 Date of Request: December 27, 2021 New Resubmission

Name: Greg Spear

Company: The Cortina Companies, Cortina Safety Products

Address: 10706 West Grand Ave, Franklin Park, IL 60131

Country: United States of America

 To: Michael S. Griffith, Director 

FHWA, Office of Safety Technologies 

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

highway program.

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

System Type Submission Type Device Name / Variant Testing Criterion Test 

Level

'WZ': Crash Worthy Work 

Zone Traffic Control Devices Physical Crash Testing

Engineering Analysis

Cortina Plastx Type II 

Barricade

AASHTO MASH TL3

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:

Contact Name: Greg Spear Same as Submitter

Company Name: The Cortina Companies, Cortina Safety Products Same as Submitter

Address: 910706 West Grand Ave, Franklin Park, IL 60131 Same as Submitter

Country: United States of America Same as Submitter

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

Eligibility Process for Safety Hardware Devices' document.

The Cortina Companies, Cortina Safety Products is the manufacturer and marketer of device. 

Applus IDIADA KARCO Engineering, LLC (IDIADA KARCO) is an independent research and testing laboratory 

having no affiliation with any other entity. IDIADA KARCO is actively Involved In data acquisition and 

compliance/certification testing for a variety of government agencies and equipment manufacturers. The 

principals and staff of IDIADA KARCO have no past or present financial, contractual or organizational interest in 

any company or entity directly or indirectly related to the products that KARCO tests. If any financial interest 

should arise, other than receiving fees for testing, reporting, etc., with respect to any project, the company will 

provide, In writing, a full and immediate disclosure to the FHWA. 
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Page 2 of 4

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 

New Hardware or Modification to 

Significant Modification Existing Hardware

Product Description of Plastx Type II Barricade 

The Plastx Type II Barricade is a work-zone traffic control device. 

Further Description: 

The as-tested Plastx Type II Barricade consisted of four (4) posts, four (4) panels, and one (1) optional standard 

D-Cell barricade light. The as-tested device had a total weight of 18.5 lbs (8.4 kg). The Plastx Type II Barricade 

was tested with one (1) 25 lbs (11.3 kg) sandbag. 

The Plastx Type II Barricade is mainly constructed of copolymer polypropylene. The four (4) posts are 42.0 in. 

(1067 mm) long and 2.0 in. (51 mm) wide and hinged to allow the device to collapse flat when not deployed. 

The top two (2) panels mounted on each side of the posts are 25.0 in. (635 mm) long and 13.0 in. (330 mm) tall. 

The bottom two (2) panels on each side are measured to be 25.0 in. (635 mm) long and 9.0 in. (229 mm) tall. In 

its deployed state, the barricade is measured to be 38.0 in. (965 mm) tall and 33.0 in. (838 mm) wide. For this 

test, a D-Cell Barricade Light was bolted to the top of the barricade. 

CRASH TESTING

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.

Engineer Name: Noah Partida

Engineer Signature: Noah Partida Digitally signed by Noah Partida 

DN: cn=Noah Partida, o, ou, email=noah.partida@idiada.com, c=US 

Date: 2022.05.25 16:07:51 -07'00'

Address: 9270 Holly Road, Adelanto, CA 92301 Same as Submitter

Country: United States of America Same as Submitter

 A brief description of each crash test and its result:

Required Test 

Number

Narrative 

Description

Evaluation 

Results

3-70 (1100C)

Designed to evaluate the ability of a small 

vehicle to activate any breakaway, fracture, 

or yielding mechanism. Is considered 

optional for work-zone traffic control 

devices weighing less than 220 lbs (100 kg). 

The as-tested device weighed 18.5 lbs (8.4 

kg) and therefore Test 70 was not 

performed.

Non-Relevant Test, not conducted
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Page 3 of 4

Required Test 

Number

Narrative 

Description

Evaluation 

Results

3-71 (1100C)

An 1100C test vehicle approached the test 

article at a nominal speed of 62 mph. The 

Cortina Plastx Type II Barricade impacted 

was oriented at 0° and at 90°. The test 

vehicle impacted the 0° CIA device at a 

speed of 63.50 mph (102.20 km/h). The 

vehicle’s front bumper first made contact 

with the lower copolymer polypropylene 

panel. Upon impact, the panel and 

collapsible posts deformed around the 

vehicle’s front end. The barricade light 

detached from the post and the device 

broke into pieces as the vehicle proceeded 

forward. The occupant compartment was 

not penetrated and no deformation 

occurred to the test vehicle. The test vehicle 

impacted the 90° CIA device at a velocity of 

61.20 mph (98.50 km/h).The vehicle’s front 

bumper first made contact with the 

copolymer polypropylene collapsible posts.

The posts deformed around the vehicle’s 

front end and broke apart. The barricade 

light detached from the post. The occupant

compartment was not penetrated and no 

deformation occurred to the test vehicle. 

The Cortina Companies Plastx Type II 

Barricade met all the requirements for 

MASH Test 3-71.

PASS

3-72 (2270P)

A 2270P test vehicle approached the test 

article at a nominal speed of 62 mph. The 

Cortina Plastx Type II Barricade impacted 

was oriented at 0° and at 90°. The test 

vehicle impacted the 0° CIA device at a 

speed of 62.04 mph (99.85 km/h). The 

vehicle’s front bumper first made contact 

with the lower reflective copolymer 

polypropylene panel. Upon impact, the 

panel and collapsible posts deformed 

around the vehicle’s front end and 

the barricade light detached as the vehicle 

proceeded forward toward. The occupant 

compartment was not penetrated and no 

deformation occurred to the test vehicle. 

The test vehicle impacted the 90° CIA device

at a velocity of 60.40 mph (97.20 km/h). The 

vehicle’s front bumper first made contact 

with the copolymer polypropylene 

collapsible posts. The device deformed 

around the vehicle’s front end and broke 

apart. The occupant compartment was not 

penetrated and no deformation occurred to 

the test vehicle. The Cortina Companies 

Plastx Type II Barricade met all the 

requirements for MASH Test 3-72.

PASS
 

 

 

 

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Page 4 of 4

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: Applus IDIADA KARCO Engineering, LLC.

Laboratory Signature: Digitally signed by Noah Partida Noah Partida DN: cn=Noah Partida, o, ou, email=noah.partida@idiada.com, c=US

Date: 2022.05.25 16:08:32 -07'00'

Address: 9270 Holly Road, Adelanto, CA 92301 Same as Submitter

Country: United States of America Same as Submitter

Accreditation Certificate 

Number and Dates of current 

Accreditation period :

TL 371: July 1, 2019 - July 1, 2022

Submitter Signature*:Greg Spear Date: 2022.05.25 18:20:35

-05'00'

Digitally signed by Greg Spear 

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 

[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 

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
MASH 2016 Test 3-71 Summary 

0° CIA 90° CIA 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION 

Test Agency.....................Applus IDIADA KARCO Engineering 

Test Number.....................P40327-01 

Test Designation............... 3-71 

Test Date.........................2/4/21 

TEST ARTICLE 

Name / Model.....................Cortina Plastx Type II Barricade 

Type.................................Work-Zone Traffic Control Device 

Device Height .................. 3.5 ft. (1.1 m) 

Key Elements.....................Copolymer Polypropylene 

Road Surface.....................Smooth, clean Concrete 

TEST VEHICLE 

Type / Designation............ 1100C 

Year, Make, and Model.........2016 Kia Rio 

Curb Mass........................2,528.5 lbs (1,147.0 kg) 

Test Inertial Mass...............2,449.3 lbs (1,111.0 kg) 

Gross Static Mass...............2,622.4 lbs (1,189.5 kg) 

Impact Conditions 

Impact Velocity Device 1...... 63.50 mph (102.20 km/h) 

Impact Velocity Device 2...... 61.20 mph (98.50 km/h) 

Device 1 Location/ Orientation............ 19.4 in. (492 mm) From Vehicle 

Centerline on Passenger Side 

Device 2 Location/ Orientation............ 18.9 in. (479 mm) From Vehicle 

Centerline on Driver Side 

Device 1 Angle.....................0.0° 

Device 2 Angle.....................90.0° 

Device 1 Kinetic Energy.........330.2 kip-feet (447.7 Kilojoules) 

Device 2 Kinetic Energy.........305.8 kip-feet (414.6 Kilojoules) 

Minimum KE Required....... 288 kip-feet (390 Kilojoules) 

Exit Conditions 

Device 1 Exit Velocity............62.92 mph (101.3 km/h) 

Device 2 Exit Velocity............60.81 mph (97.9 km/h)

Vehicle Resting Position.........298.0 ft. (90.8 m) Downstream 

2.5 ft. (0.8 m) Right 

Vehicle Stability ..................Satisfactory 

0° - Maximum Roll Angle...... Did Not Exceed 75° 

90° - Maximum Pitch Angle... Did Not Exceed 75° 

0° - Maximum Roll Angle...... Did Not Exceed 75° 

90° - Maximum Pitch Angle... Did Not Exceed 75° 

Occupant Risk 

Longitudinal OIV.....................Not Applicable* 

Lateral OIV...........................Not Applicable* 

Longitudinal RA.....................Not Applicable* 

Lateral RA........................... Not Applicable* 

THIV....................................Not Applicable* 

PHD....................................Not Applicable* 

ASI.................................... Not Applicable* 

Test Article Deflections 

0° Sign Debris Field (longitudinal)........... 101.2 ft. (30.8 m) 

0° Sign Debris Field (lateral)............ 19.9 ft. (6.1 m) 

90° Sign Debris Field (longitudinal)......... 146.3 ft. (44.6 m) 

90° Sign Debris Field (lateral).......... 9.8 ft. (3.0 m) 

Vehicle Damage 

Vehicle Damage Scale............12-FC-1 

CDC....................................12FDEN1 

Maximum Deformation............MASH Deformation Limits Not 

Exceeded (0.0 in.) 0 mm 

* Not Applicable, device weighs less than 220 lbs (100 kg) 

Figure 2 Summary of Test 3-71 

13 TR-P40327-01-D 
MASH 2016 Test 3-72 Summary 

0° CIA 90° CIA 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION 

Test Agency.....................Applus IDIADA KARCO Engineering 

Test Number.....................P40328-01 

Test Designation............... 3-72 

Test Date.........................2/4/21 

TEST ARTICLE 

Name / Model.....................Cortina Plastx Type II Barricade 

Type.................................Work-Zone Traffic Control Device 

Device Height .................. 3.5 ft. (1.1 m) 

Key Elements.....................Copolymer Polypropylene 

Road Surface.....................Smooth, clean concrete 

TEST VEHICLE 

Type / Designation...............2270P 

Year, Make, and Model.........2015 RAM 1500 

Curb Mass........................5,044.1 lbs (2,288.0 kg) 

Test Inertial Mass...............5,009.9 lbs (2,272.5 kg) 

Gross Static Mass...............5,009.9 lbs (2,272.5 kg) 

Impact Conditions 

Impact Velocity Device 1.........62.04 mph (99.85 km/h) 

Impact Velocity Device 2.........60.40 mph (97.20 km/h) 

Device 1 Location/ Orientation...............23.5 in. (596 mm) From Vehicle 

Centerline on Passenger Side 

Device 2 Location/ Orientation...............18.8 in. (477 mm) From Vehicle 

Centerline on Driver Side 

Device 1 Angle.....................0.0° 

Device 2 Angle.....................90.0° 

Device 1 Kinetic Energy.........644.7 kip-feet (874.1 Kilojoules) 

Device 2 Kinetic Energy.........610.9 kip-feet (828.3 Kilojoules) 

Minimum KE Required....... 594 kip-feet (806 Kilojoules) 

Exit Conditions 

Device 1 Exit Velocity............61.89 mph (99.6 km/h) 

Device 2 Exit Velocity............60.14 mph (96.8 km/h) 

Vehicle Resting Position.........283.3 ft. (86.4 m) Downstream 

2.5 ft. (0.8 m) Right 

Vehicle Stability .................. Satisfactory 

0° - Maximum Roll Angle.........Did Not Exceed 75° 

0° - Maximum Pitch Angle...... Did Not Exceed 75° 

90° - Maximum Roll Angle......Did Not Exceed 75° 

90° - Maximum Pitch Angle......Did Not Exceed 75° 

Occupant Risk 

Longitudinal OIV.....................Not Applicable* 

Lateral OIV...........................Not Applicable* 

Longitudinal RA.....................Not Applicable* 

Lateral RA........................... Not Applicable* 

THIV....................................Not Applicable* 

PHD....................................Not Applicable* 

ASI.................................... Not Applicable* 

Test Article Deflections 

0° Sign Debris Field (longitudinal).. 140.0 ft. (42.7 m) 

0° Sign Debris Field (lateral)...... 31.5 ft. (9.6 m) 

90° Sign Debris Field (longitudinal)...... 172.0 ft. (52.4 m) 

90° Sign Debris Field (lateral)... 24.5 ft. (7.5 m) 

Vehicle Damage 

Vehicle Damage Scale............12-FC-1 

CDC....................................12FDEN1 

Maximum Deformation............MASH Deformation Limits Not 

Exceeded (0.0 in.) 0 mm 

* Not Applicable, device weighs less than 220 lbs (100 kg) 

Figure 2 Summary of Test 3-72 

13 TR-P40328-01-D 
 

An optional standard D-Cell

Barricade light attaches here

by placing the light in the

provided tray and bolting

in place.

 

 

 

CLOSED POSITION

Specifications

1.) Composition Copolymer Polypropylene

2.) Color-White

3.) Type II

4.) Available in all grades of Reflective Sheeting

5.) Weight 18.5 lbs.

6.) Dimensions 38"H X 33"W in open position

A

REV REF REVISION DESCRIPTION DATE

MATERIAL

Copolymer

Polypropylene

COLOR AND FINISH

White

THIS DRAWING IN DESIGN & DETAIL IS THE PROPERTY OF CORTINA TOOL & MOLDING COMPANY

MATERIAL DESCRIBED & INFORMATION CONVEYED MAY NOT BE COPIED, DIVULGED OR USED FOR

MANUFACTURING WITHOUT CONSENT ALL DESIGN AND INVENTION RIGHTS RESERVED

THIRD ANGLE

PROJECTION

TOLERANCES UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED

2 PL. DECIMALS ± N/A

3 PL DECIMALS ± N/A

ANGLES ± N/A

OPEN POSITION

CERTIFIED ISO 9002

www.cortinaco.com

     FRANKLIN PARK, IL 6

PLASTXTYPE II BARRICADE

SCALE AT A SIZE 1 = 20

DRAFTER DATE

CHECKER DATE

DRAWING NUMBER REVISION

A