Signs on Breakaway Barricades – Wind and Crash Tests

Work zone informational sign panels are often mounted on portable wood or metal frames and used for changing traffic operations in New Jersey work zones. At times, these portable signs are placed close to Type III breakaway barricades used to channelize traffic. If signs could be placed on the barricades instead, then some portable wood or metal sign frams would no longer be needed. This would reduce sign costs as well. Barricades with signs attached at various heights for visibility purposes were tested for durability under wind loads up to 60 mph in accordance with criteria established by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Twenty and 60 mph full scale vehicle crash tests were conducted in compliance with criteria found in AASHTO and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 230. Only lighweight signs were attached to the barricades in the tests to eliminate doubt concerning the damage that standard weight signs might cause. The 0.024 inch thick aluminum sign with 12 inches of ground clearance failed the 60 mph crash test. However, vinyl rollup signs with 38 and 50 inches of clearance and 0.024 inch thick aluminum signs with 29 and 41 inches of clearance from the bottom of the sign to the pavement passed the wind and crash tests and are recommended for implementation.