W-Beam Guardrail

01 Jul.,2024

 

W-Beam Guardrail

W-Beam is a standard guardrail panel used to shield roadside hazards. The redirective longitudinal barrier features corrugated two-wave cross sectional design and is often used for median and shoulder applications. W-Beam is made of galvanized steel and is available in 10-gauge and 12-gauge steel.

For more Hot Dip Galvanized W-Beam Guardrailinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

Midwest Guardrail System | Gregory Highway

W-Beam Barrier for the Future

The Midwest Guardrail System (or MGS Guardrail was engineered to handle today's modern vehicles. Existing W-Beam barriers were developed many years ago when the vehicle fleet was different than it is today. These existing W-Beam barriers measure 27 5/8" to the top of the rail. When crash tested with today's higher center of gravity vehicles, many results have not been successful. 

In -, the Midwest States Pooled Fund Program, funded by 11 states, recognized the need for a new generic strong post W-Beam barrier that would be compatible with the newer higher center of gravity vehicles crash tested under NCHRP 305 Test Level 3 conditions. The result was the MGS Guardrail barrier. 

For more information, please visit Galvanized Highway W Beam Guardrail.

The differences between the MGS Guardrail Barrier and the older W-Beam barrier are:

  • The MGS top of the rail height is 31" rather than 27 5/8"
  • The MGS blockout is 12" rather than 8"
  • The MGS W-Beam guardrail splices occur mid-span between posts rather than at the post

If you want to learn more, please visit our website wide flange vs i-beam.