1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

 Washington, D.C. 20590

September 6, 2013

FHWA: HSST: WLongstreet: sf.x60087: WLongstreet: 8/28/13

File: h://directory folder/HSST/B243_Mid West Guardrail System MGS Non-blockout.docx

cc: HSST Will Longstreet

In Reply Refer To:

HSST/ B-243

Ms. Karla Lechtenberg

Midwest Roadside Safety Facility (MwRSF)

130 Whittier Research Center

2200 Vine Street

Lincoln, NE 68583-0853

Dear Ms. Lechtenberg:

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: 31-inch Non-Blocked Midwest Guardrail System (MGS)

Type of system: Longitudinal Barrier

Test Level: AASHTO MASH TL3 

Testing conducted by: Midwest Roadside Safety Facility (MwRSF)

Task Force 13 Designator: SGR41

Date of request: October 5, 2012

Date initially acknowledged: October 5, 2012

Date of completed package: July 3, 2013

Decision:

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

integral part of this letter:

• 31-inch Non-Blocked Midwest Guardrail System (MGS)

Based on a review of crash test results you submitted certifying the device described herein 

meets the crash test and evaluation criteria of the American Association of State Highway and 

Transportation Officials’ Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH), the 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 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 MASH 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 test and evaluation criteria of the MASH.

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

number B-243 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