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LAND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
Letters to Industry
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2016 Road and Bridge Standards
Land Development Services received the following information from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Forwarding along these details for awareness.
TO USERS OF LOCATION AND DESIGN DIVISION’S 2016 Road & Bridge Standards:
We have been working to resolve several technical glitches. All link issues appear to be working correctly now. The random text deletion issue with the Standards drawings has been resolved. The text issue mostly affected the new TL-4 Constant Slope Concrete Barrier Standards (CSB) and associated new drainage structures that were published in March 2025. Since these are new Standards, CSB and the associated drainage inlets will not be required for advertised projects until after January 1, 2027.
REVISION
The Standards Section is removing the MB-9A, MB-9A PC, and MB-10A Standards.
Background
- The MB-9A/9A PC Terminal Section Standards are not MASH compliant concrete median barrier terminals. They are ramped down concrete barrier terminals, cast-in-place or precast, that were only allowed to be used outside the Clear Zone in low-speed applications. To avoid any future installation issues which could potentially lead to run-on impacts, new installations of MB-9 and MB-9A terminals are no longer allowed after December 31, 2025. Should a terminal be required, a crashworthy MASH compliant terminal for concrete median barrier must be used.
- The MB-10A is a narrow single-sided F-Shaped temporary concrete barrier that can only be used on bridge deck applications and must be anchored to the deck. The MB-10A is not MASH compliant and the anchorage was designed by the Central Office S&B staff. The Department, at the direction of the Chief Engineer and in compliance with the AASHTO/FHWA joint implementation plan, moved forward with transitioning to MASH compliant hardware. On July 9, 2019, IIM 259 was approved which outlines the sunset date for the use of non-compliant temporary concrete barriers until the end of 2029. The memo also prohibited the manufacturing of the temporary barriers (not meeting MASH) after 2019.
Project Impacts
- The removal of the MB-9A/9A PC will require design staff to use one of the appropriate impact attenuators from the MASH Provisionally Approved Products List (link below).
- New installations of MB-9A/9A PC will no longer be allowed after the end of 2025.
- The removal of the MB-10A will require design staff to utilize an anchored version of the double-sided F-Shaped barrier and accommodate the wider barrier in their MOT designs.
- At this time, VDOT has an approved MASH compliant bridge anchorage design on the MASH Provisionally Approved Products List at https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/doing-business/technical-guidance-and-support/location-and-design/roadway-design/roadside-safety-devices/.Contractors can also use VDOT approved existing anchored double-sided NCHRP 350 barriers until the end of 2029.
- Existing stock of the MB-10A can still be used by the contractor, with project staff approval, until the end of 2029.
Refer to the main page of the Road and Bridge Standards website at the below link.
Road and Bridge Standards | Virginia Department of Transportation
Please distribute this message to personnel that work with the 2016 Road & Bridge Standards.
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