States Embrace New Truck Mounted Attenuators
12 October 1998
States Embrace New Truck Mounted Attenuators to Protect Workers On High Speed Highways
CHICAGO--Oct. 9, 1998--Developing a truck mounted attenuator (TMA) capable of withstanding a 100 km/h (62 mph) impact -- the National Cooperative Highway Research Project's Report 350 Test Level 3 -- presented manufacturers with an formidable challenge. Energy Absorption Systems, Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of TMAs and other types of crash cushions, responded with the Alpha 100K(TM) TMA, and early user-reports indicate that the 100K TMA is working very well to provide protection to work crews on the Interstate System, and other high speed highways.TMA's are crash cushions designed to be affixed to the rear of a vehicle that trails a highway maintenance crew performing such operations as striping, marker installation or sign placement. These devices can absorb the impact of an out-of-control vehicle to prevent it from entering the work zone, thus protecting personnel, equipment, as well as the driver of the errant vehicle.
According to the manufacturer, 27 states have approved use of the Alpha 100K for use in locations where the majority of attenuators, designed for Test Level 2 "hits," or only 70 km/h (43 mph), are insufficient.
Over the past six months, the Kansas Department of Transportation has deployed 20 new Alpha 100K TMAs with maintenance crews working the Chanute, Topeka and Salina areas. Shadow truck drivers at these locations have never felt as safe on the road as they do with these new, higher rated attenuators.
According to Mac Villapando, District Equipment Engineer, "It's against our policy to endorse or recommend any manufacturer's product, and, fortunately, this district has not experienced any hits to these units. However, based upon the experience in those Kansas districts that have experienced incidents, we recently ordered three more Alpha 100Ks."
The State of Maryland put six of the new Alpha 100Ks into service last summer, then shortly thereafter ordered another 39 units. In May of this year, the State ordered yet another 39.
Al Swartz, Equipment Management Officer with the Maryland Transportation Authority, is overseeing a program that will put approximately 50 Alpha 100K TMAs into operation with crews maintaining that state's toll-road system.
"We have had at least two incidents with vehicles hitting the TMAs," Swartz said, "with no injury to personnel or damage to equipment. We'd say the Alpha 100Ks are operating as advertised."
As of late last year, the State of Virginia now requires that all TMAs comply with NCHRP 350 TL-3 (100 km/h 62mph) specifications. Today the State has more than 65 Alpha 100Ks on the road with both State crews and independent contractors. Half of these units are in service in the Richmond area.
To meet the NCHRP 350 Test Level 3, an attenuator must pass a matrix of tests to demonstrate an ability to withstand an impact of up to 100 km/h (62 mph) using both a 820 kg (1,800 lb) small car and a 2,000 kg (4,500 lb) pick-up truck.
According to Richard Figlewicz, Director of Marketing, for Energy Absorption Systems, "The Alpha 100K joins our Alpha 70K, that is tested to Test Level 2 (70 km/h, or 43 mph) as a NCHRP 350 approved TMA. Today, work is being done on roads where traffic is not re-routed, exposing crews to traffic approaching from behind the work zone area. States often try to protect these crews with a shadow truck positioned between oncoming traffic and the actual working vehicles. Now, more and more states and agencies are adding an energy-absorbing attenuator, called a TMA, to protect both the driver of the shadow vehicle as well as those people in the car or truck colliding with it."
After most impacts, the Alpha 100K TMA can be repaired by replacing modular cartridges. The framework itself normally requires little or no refurbishment. The Alpha 100K TMA also features a rugged Durashell(R) nose which can withstand many nuisance hits and return to its original shape.
All Energy Absorption Systems TMAs can be outfitted with a 90-degree tilt and jack package that allows drivers to bring the attenuator to a vertical position when not in use. Other accessories include arrow boards, changeable message signs, tailgate hitches and socket hitches.
A wholly owned subsidiary of the Quixote Corporation, Energy Absorption Systems is the leading manufacturer of highway attenuators and other related safety devices. Headquartered in Chicago, the company maintains research and development facilities in Rocklin, Calif., and manufacturing plants in Pell City, Ala., and South Bend, Ind.
