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As you noted, MwRSF has conducted two studies on the placement of strong-post, W-beam guardrail systems near fill slopes.

The first study involved the development and testing of metric height, W-beam rail (706 mm = 27-3/4") supported by W6x9 by 7' long steel posts spaced 37.5" on center. The center of each post was placed at the slope breakpoint for a 2:1 fill slope.

The second study involved the development and testing of the MGS, W-beam rail (787 mm = 31") supported by W6x9 by 9' long steel posts spaced 75" on center. The center of each post was placed at the slope breakpoint for a 2:1 fill slope.

Following this research and upon receiving requests for guidance on the placement of guardrail near slopes, Dean and Bob developed additional guidance for the two designs and for varying fill slopes and fill distances behind posts. This guidance was noted in MwRSF's prior Pooled Fund consulting summaries as well as in the 2007 discussions on MGS implementation. It is as follows:

MwRSF (10-29-2007 Email to MGS Implementation Routing List): Recently, the Mn DOT requested guidance for placement of standard and MGS guardrail adjacent to slopes of various configurations. In response to this request and using available crash test data as well as engineering judgment, Dr. Dean Sicking and Mr. Bob Bielenberg prepared the preliminary guidance, subject to refinement in the future. It is as follows:

For standard W-beam guardrail:

1.       Standard W-beam guardrail placed adjacent to any slope with 2' of level soil behind the posts is acceptable.

2.       For w-beam guardrail placed 1'-2' adjacent to a 6:1 or flatter slope, standard 6' W6x9 posts at standard spacing are recommended.

3.       For w-beam guardrail placed 1'-2' adjacent to a 3:1 to 6:1 slope, 7' W6x9 posts at standard spacing are recommended.

4.       For w-beam guardrail placed less than 1' adjacent to a 3:1 or steeper slope, 7' W6x9 posts at half spacing are recommended.

For MGS guardrail:

1.       Standard MGS guardrail placed adjacent to any slope with 2' of level soil behind the posts is acceptable.

2.       For MGS guardrail placed 1'-2' adjacent to a 6:1 or flatter slope, standard 6' W6x9 posts at standard spacing are recommended.

3.       For MGS guardrail placed 1'-2' adjacent to a 3:1 to 6:1 slope, 7' W6x9 posts at standard spacing are recommended.

4.       For MGS guardrail placed less than 1' adjacent to a 3:1 or steeper slope, 9' W6x9 posts at standard spacing are recommended.

Based on your inquiry, the KsDOT provides approximately 29" of fill behind the wood posts and 31" of fill behind the steel posts. For both KsDOT configurations, more than 2' of fill is provided behind the steel and wood posts, thus resulting in guidance that any slope could be used beyond the 24" of generally level terrain. This recommendation is based on the use of 6' long posts in standard W-beam and MGS systems. The use of 6'-6" posts would provide increased post-soil forces over those provided with the 6' long posts. In addition, the safety performance of the KsDOT W-beam guardrail systems using 6'-6" post lengths would be nearly identical for systems installed in level terrain as well as the terrain described in your email. Finally, the two guardrail systems shown below could utilize 6' post lengths instead of the current length of 6'-6" in standard installations with sufficient compacted soil fill is placed behind the posts.