The MASH 16 TL-3 and TL-4 compliant HighwayGuard™ steel barrier system has been approved for use by the state of West Virginia in standard (SDS), low (LDS) and minimum (MDS) configurations.
HighwayGuard™ provides a versatile road safety system to protect workers as they carry out road maintenance or improvement projects, while reducing the risk to vehicle occupants associated with accidental impacts. The innovative system is ideally suited to the challenging topography of West Virginia’s road network, because the system is easy to reconfigure and can be adapted to different environments and deflection specifications with a simple change to the anchoring arrangement.
Located in the Appalachian region, with the Allegheny Mountains running through it, West Virginia is a popular US destination, renowned for its stunning natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities. With its rugged, mountainous terrain and beautiful landscapes, the state is also known for its scenic drives, one of which, Route 50, is often referred to as the ‘Loneliest Road in America’ and the section that runs through West Virginia is particularly famous for its stunning views and remoteness. The state also features stretches of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the scenic Appalachian Corridor G, which has spectacular views of the Appalachian Mountains.
The mountainous terrain and winding roads that make the state of West Virginia so scenic, also present substantial road safety challenges, including narrow and winding roads with sharp curves and steep inclines. These roads can be particularly dangerous in icy and snowy winter conditions. HighwayGuard™ can help to reduce the risks associated with drivers losing control of their vehicle by providing effective incursion protection for work areas and redirecting errant vehicles ™back to the carriageway and direction of traffic.
With its patented T-connector and symmetrical barrier lengths, HighwayGuard™ provides rapid connection and disconnection, with a simplified design that benefits contactors with integrated anchoring and limited components. With a section width as small as 0.25m, up to a maximum width across the trafficable foot of 0.54m, the system’s narrow footprint also makes it ideal for deployment on West Virginia’s narrow roads.
The West Virginia approval adds to a long list of locations across the US, Canada and Australasia where HighwayGuard™ has been sanctioned for use on the roads.