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FHWA Review of ET-Plus

Letter from FHWA to Trinity Highway Products, LLC, November 12, 2014

Download: nadeautrinity20141112.pdf (466 KB)

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November 12, 2014

In Reply Refer To: HCC-1

Mr. Gregg Mitchell
President
Trinity Highway Products, LLC
2525 N. Stemmons Freeway
Dallas, TX 75207

Dear Mr. Mitchell:

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is in receipt of the revised test plan of the ET- Plus (ET-Plus) System submitted by Trinity Highway Products, LLC (Trinity) on November 6, 2014. After review of the plan, FHWA accepts the test plan and directs Trinity to implement the plan, subject to the following:

  1. As discussed with Trinity and explained in Mr. Furst's November 4, 2014, communication to Trinity, FHWA requires that the test results from each series of tests (the 27.75" height tests and the 31" height tests) be submitted to FHWA as soon as possible after completion of that series. Under the plan. Trinity intends to complete the 27.75" series before proceeding to the 31" series. The FHWA expects that Trinity will submit to FHWA the results and test report for the 27.75" series expeditiously after that series is completed and not defer submission until completion of the 31" series.

  2. The FHWA continues to seek ET-Plus devices for use in the testing. While the test plan provides that Trinity is responsible for identifying and procuring the systems to be used, FHWA retains authority to approve which devices are tested. The FHWA will work with Trinity to procure systems from existing State departments of transportation inventories to be used in the testing and to ensure proper chain of custody.

  3. The FHWA requests that Trinity identify the year, make, and model of test vehicles and obtain FHWA approval before procuring the vehicles.

  4. The FHWA reiterates its request that Trinity confirm that the ET-Plus units that will be tested are identical to the devices tested in 2005 and 2010.

  5. The FHWA accepts Trinity's proposed schedule, recognizing the need to ensure that the tests are performed carefully and properly. We continue to encourage Trinity to make every reasonable effort to complete the testing more quickly than called for in the schedule, without compromising accuracy.

  6. As FHWA has communicated to Trinity, the test plan is only one part of our review and analysis of ET-Plus and similar guardrails. The FHWA is currently evaluating requests for additional testing beyond the NCHRP 350 standards. We will review the data and information we are collecting from a variety of sources to determine whether additional analyses or testing, including in-service performance evaluations of the ET-Plus and other end treatments, are needed.

  7. The FHWA reiterates its desire that the testing be as transparent as possible.

The FHWA looks forward to Trinity's completion of the testing.

Sincerely,

Gregory G. Nadeau
Acting Administrator

Page posted on November 12, 2014
Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000