Chapter 1610 (pdf) of the WSDOT Design Manual provides guidance for the different barriers, terminals and transitions that WSDOT uses.
Barriers
Cable Barrier In-Action
Traffic Barrier: Information and Reports
- Standard Plan C-2r (pdf, 179 kb)
Barrier Placement, Cable to Thrie Beam Bull Nose Connection (Case 25)
- Standard Plan C-2s (pdf, 269 kb)
Barrier Placement, Cable to W-Beam Shielding for Redirectional Landform (Case 26)
- Standard Plan C-2t (pdf, 305 kb)
Barrier Placement, Cable Barrier Shielding for Redirectional Landform (Case 27)
Research
Brochures
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Aesthetic Barrier
An Excel spreadsheet may be downloaded and used to calculate barrier length of need. (xls, 20 kb)
Terminals
Buried Terminal
The buried terminal is the preferred terminal because it eliminates the exposed end of the guardrail. The guardrail is anchored in a backslope that is 1V:3H or steeper and at least 4 feet in height.
Buried Terminal Type 1 is used when the foreslope is 1V:10H or flatter. The guardrail is flared into the backslope using the appropriate flare rate. The height of the guardrail is maintained as it enters the embankment. Standard Plan C-4 (pdf, 277 kb)
Buried Terminal Type 2 is used when the foreslope is as steep as 1V:4H. A more abrupt flare is acceptible after the rail passed the bottom of the ditch. The height of the guardrail is maintained relative to the roadway and a rubrail is used along the exposed portion of the posts. Standard Plan C-4a (pdf, 462 kb)
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Nonflared Terminal
A nonflared terminal can be used where the widening to provide the offset for a flared terminal is not practical.
Standard Plan C-4e (pdf, 271 kb) identifies two acceptable source proprietary nonflared terminal designs; the ET2000-LET and the SKT-350. The standard plan does not show all of the details needed to construct these terminals. The standard plan supplements the manufacturers drawings which can be downloaded below.
The nonflared terminals (pdf, 756 kb) are very similar in appearance. Click on this link to view a guide that provides information to identify these designs and their unique features. (1/29/01)
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Manufacturer's Drawings
For use with 31 inch systems:
Others:
Manufacturer's plans of older nonflared terminal designs
Old Nonflared Terminal Manufacturer drawings
Flared Terminal
A flared terminal can be used where a buried terminal cannot be installed. These terminals are flared away from the traveled way which creates an offset from the tangent guardrail.
Standard Plan C-4b (pdf, 290 kb) identifies two acceptable sole source proprietary flared terminal designs: the SRT and the FLEAT 350. The standard plan does not show all of the details needed to construct these terminals. This standard plan supplements the manufacturers drawings which can be downloaded below.
Flared Energy Absorbing Terminal (FLEAT 350) Manufacturer's Drawings
Flared Energy Absorbing Terminal (FLEAT 350) Views:
SRT-350 Manufacturer's Drawings
- SRT 350 (8 Post Design) (pdf, 136 kb)
The WSDOT has discontinued the use of the SRT 75. For low speed installations, the FLEAT-TL2 can be used.
Manufacturer's plans of older SRT designs
Slotted Rail Terminal Manufacturer drawings:
New Research