Citation

Lohrey EC. Transp. Res. Rec. 1991; 1367: 47-53.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1991, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In an on-going effort to develop improved vehicular impact-attenuation devices, the Connecticut Department of Transportation has designed, tested, and field installed a new and unique crash cushion known as the Narrow Connecticut Impact-Attenuation System (NCIAS). The NCIAS is the third and latest device to be introduced to the family of Connecticut impact-attenuators. Like the first, truck-mounted device (Connecticut Crash Cushion), and the second, wide stationary device (Connecticut Impact-Attenuation System), steel cylinders of various wall thicknesses are employed as the energy-absorbing medium in the NCIAS. Differing from the first two devices, the NCIAS incorporates eight steel cylinders that are arranged and connected in a single row to protect motorists from impacting very narrow and rigid roadside features such as bridge piers and blunt ends of concrete longitudinal barriers. The completed System is 3 ft wide and 24 ft long, which facilitates its use at a variety of width-restricted hazard areas. This report describes the shop fabrication of the NCIAS units and the subsequent construction and installation of these units at five high-hazard expressway locations in Connecticut. Since obtaining FHWA approval for use as an experimental safety appurtenance on federal-aid highway projects, the NCIAS has been installed at two locations in Tennessee as well as the five locations described herein. The operational and safety performance of these NCIAS installations will be monitored for a three-year evaluation period.

Language: en