Developing an Enhanced Protection of Median Openings Between Parallel Bridge Structures

Kovar, James C.; Loza, Alondra; Schroeder, William J. L

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Developing an Enhanced Protection of Median Openings Between Parallel Bridge Structures

2025-07-01
By Kovar, James C. ; Loza, Alondra ; Schroeder, William J. L

File Language:

English

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Creators:

Kovar, James C. ; Loza, Alondra ; Schroeder, William J. L
Corporate Creators:

Texas A&M University System. Texas Transportation Institute
Corporate Contributors:

Texas Department of Transportation. Research and Technology Implementation Office ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
Subject/TRT Terms:

Bridge Design Crash Tests Hazard Mitigation High Risk Locations Median Barriers Medians Safety
Publication/ Report Number:

FHWA/TX-25/0-7021-01-R1
Resource Type:

Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:

United States
Edition:

Technical Report: August 2020–May 2025
Corporate Publisher:

Texas. Department of Transportation
Abstract:

The objective of this project was to develop a method to prevent errant motorists from entering the median openings between parallel bridge structures. This project identified characteristics that could be used to target potential sites for implementation of a median opening protection system (MOPS). In this identification process, the research team completed a systematic approach analysis on the available crash data to determine these characteristics. Because of the risk associated with larger vehicles being involved with this type of crash, the research team was tasked with investigating both the crashes involving median opening areas and the crashes involving buses. Additionally, this project investigated readily available technologies for their application in a vehicle arresting system. This system would be implemented in median openings between parallel bridge structures and would arrest errant vehicles before they plunged into the hazard below the bridge. Last, the research team developed a MOPS using readily available technologies and evaluated the MOPS through full-scale crash testing.
Format:

PDF
Funding:

0-7021-01
Collection(s):

US Transportation Collection
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha-512:723212600782527c5272f551a9ee1c75eedc3f600baa50eef11786e7640a3acdd5d84dbda2ce349c25b3426288a7f10a3a282a2e553a44c458532cedf6de28c3
Download URL:

https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/86041/dot_86041_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 22.79 MB ]

File Language:

English

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