TRAFFIC-CONTROL-DEVICES-IN-Work-Zone

  Section Task

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 TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES IN WORK ZONES IN ACCORDANCE WITH C&MS

NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM REPORT 350 STANDARDS

 Date Last Edited: September 26, 2019 

The Department pre-approves and lists all traffic control devices subject to impact by errant vehicles to be used on state construction and maintenance projects. These products must comply with the Federal Highway Administration’s directive mandating that all such devices, used on the National Highway System, must be crashworthy and meet all requirements and regulations stipulated by the 1993 National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 350, “Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Features”.

The Department lists four NCHRP Report 350 categories of approved traffic control devices. This list has devices in NCHRP Report 350 Categories I and II.  Approved devices shall conform to C&MS 614.03 Traffic Control General (including, but not limited to C&MS 614.03.B Temporary Traffic Control Devices).

Self-certify devices in NCHRP Report 350 Category I are shown for information. Devices in this category may be used that do not appear on the approved list if appropriate self-certification documentation is provided.

Each traffic control device must be evaluated prior to inclusion on the Approved Products List.  The evaluation process requires the manufacturer to submit product specifications and a product brochure for each traffic control device to be considered.  Also, the manufacturer must submit a self-certification letter certifying the device meets the requirements of NCHRP Report 350 for each of those devices included in NCHRP Report 350 Category I and a copy of the FHWA eligibility letter for each of those devices included in NCHRP Report 350 Category II.  Eligibility by the FHWA does not guarantee inclusion on Approved Products Lists.  The Ohio Department of Transportation reserves the right, as granted by the July 25, 1997 FHWA memorandum, “Action:  Identifying Acceptable Highway Safety Features”, to reject a product or place limitations on its use, require additional testing, or require in-service evaluation.

The process to have a product considered for inclusion on ODOT’s Approved Product Lists below is as follows:  

1.              Compile the following information, for each product to be considered:

                             a.       Copy of eligibility “WZ” letter from FHWA for NCHRP Report 350 Category II Devices

                             b.       Copy of self-certification letter for NCHRP Report 350 Category I Devices

                             d.       Detailed product information in a format as shown on the applicable approved product list, including a unique product name/identifier 

                      e.       Detailed product specifications and detailed dimensioned drawing of the product 

 f.       Copy of sales brochure 

g.       Photo(s) of the product (if not already on the sales brochure)

2.              Submit all the above information, via email, to:

                 Paul Beck, P.E.​, Transportation Engineer
     Ohio Department of Transportation
     Office of Roadway Engineering
     Paul.Beck@dot.ohio.gov​

NOTE: In order to be considered for inclusion on the MASH (Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware) Approved Product List for each of the devices listed below, please submit a copy of an eligibility "WZ" letter from FHWA that is in accordance to the MASH crash testing requirements along with 1.c, 1.d, 1.e, 1.f and 1.g described above. 

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