Guardrail Performs Beyond Expectations in Statesville Crash, Ensuring Driver Safety
Location: I-77 Northbound, Statesville, NC
In a remarkable testament to highway safety innovation, a guardrail system on I-77 northbound in Statesville, NC, performed well beyond its expected capacity during a recent crash. The incident saw a guardrail run equipped with the MASH Sequential Kinking Terminal (MSKT), effectively absorbing energy and kinking 100’0 of guardrail. The vehicle was brought to a controlled stop, and remarkably, the driver walked away unharmed.
Seen in this photo, our post is 50 feet long, with 8 posts spaced 6’3” apart. Gregory Post is compatible with rail heights ranging from 30 to 32 inches and offers an optional 25:1 flare rate.
Crash test requirements suggest that 50 feet of guardrail deformation is sufficient for optimal safety in head-on collisions with tangent end terminals. However, this particular impact resulted in double that length of damage, showcasing the superior energy absorption and safety capabilities of the MSKT system. The MSKT guardrail terminal is MASH TL-2 and TL-3 compliant and uses sequential kinking technology to safely stop vehicles during frontal crashes. When struck, the impact head slides over the W-Beam guardrail, kinking the rail and allowing the vehicle to decelerate smoothly. The system also functions effectively during side impacts, redirecting vehicles safely.
Pictured above, the Gregory Highway W-Beam guardrail is produced in standard AASHTO 12' 6" or 25' 0" lengths. In addition to the standard W-beam sizes, custom lengths and custom post-hole spacing are available on request.
Designed to be both strong and easy to install, the MSKT is part of Gregory Highway’s lineup of cutting-edge road safety barriers, known for their durability and reliability. This incident highlights the critical role of advanced guardrail end terminal systems like the MSKT in safeguarding drivers and enhancing highway safety nationwide.