Galvanized Guardrails to Increase Your Safety on the Road
Tri-State Guardrail & Sign Co offers a sophisticated, standardized approach to guardrail fabrication. As a custom galvanized guardrail fabricator, we can modify our safety barriers to meet virtually any height or width requirement.
W-beam guardrails are cost-effective longitudinal highway barriers designed to reduce the severity of run-off-road (ROR) collisions, prevent vehicular impact with roadside objects, and lessen the likelihood of vehicle overturning.
W-beam highway guardrails are the most common crash barrier used on United States highways due to their high effectiveness and inexpensive production costs.
W-beam highway guardrails have proven highly effective in reducing the frequency and severity of accidents. A recent Transportation Research Board study determined that guardrails are at least 97% effective in reducing injuries and fatalities. Since their inception during the 1960s, W-beam guardrails have protected millions of travelers by containing or deflecting run-off-road vehicles from impact with roadside hazards.
Why Southern Guard Rail?
By maintaining a large in-stock inventory of W-Beam Guardrails, Southern Guard Rail can quickly supply small or large quantities of vehicle barriers at highly competitive prices.
We provide expert installation of vehicle barriers for both state and non-state projects and can modify designs to meet any state or international regulation, including all guardrail safety regulations outlined by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and NCHRP Report 350.
W-Beam Guardrail Specifications
- Optimal choice for safety, strength, durability, and cost-effectiveness
- High-strength 12-gauge (Class A) and 10-gauge (Class B) galvanized steel
- Rust-resistant zinc coating
- Guardrails available in standard 25' and 12' 6" lengths
- Standard center punching is 12' 6" O.C., 6' 3" O.C., and 3' 1-1/2" O.C., with other options available.
- Type 2 Zinc-Coated and Weathering Steel W-beam guardrails are available
- Custom length and post-holes available upon request
Locations that Benefit from Guardrail Installation
Interstates, highways, and secondary roads; W-beam highway guardrails are commonly installed on interstates, roadways, and secondary roads to protect run-off-road vehicles from natural and man-made roadside hazards.
Parking Lots
W-beam parking lot guardrails offers highly effective shielding in parking lots against vehicle hazards such as light poles, buildings, ditches, etc. Our guardrail end treatments are ideal for areas with a high concentration of pedestrian traffic.
Bridges and embankments
W-beam bridge and embankment guardrails provide a lifesaving shield from the areas below bridges (rivers, railroad tracks, other roads, etc.).
Parks and Recreation
Guardrails provide barriers to restricted park areas and protect wildlife and can also be installed over cliffs and other potentially dangerous areas.
The blunt end of W-beam guardrails features protective rail end treatments designed to absorb impact or deflect oncoming traffic. Our high-quality guardrail end treatments are constructed using high-strength 10-gauge (Class B) steel and are coated in rust-resistant zinc for maximum service life.
Question mark and flared end rail end treatments are commonly used throughout parking lots and low-speed traffic areas.
Flared Guardrail End Treatment
Flared guardrail end treatments, also known as flared wings, provide rigid, straight protection for energy deflection during impact. Flared end treatments are easy to install and can be modified for custom installations.
Question Mark Guardrail End Treatment
Commonly referred to as rounded end connectors or half-round buffers, question mark guardrail end treatments are ideal for areas with high pedestrian traffic. Question mark terminal end treatments feature a curved surface to help prevent injury and torn clothing.
90-Degree Corner (Fabricated)
Ninety-degree corner end treatments are ideal for sharp corners or surrounding square parking lot objects. Ninety-degree corner end treatments provide a clean, highly aesthetic appearance that allows for increased design configurations.
Highway Crash End Terminal
In addition to our fabricated guardrail end terminals, we also offer a wide selection of highway crash end terminals and crash cushions designed to absorb or deflect direct impact with oncoming traffic.
The following end anchor terminals have been crash-tested and approved to NCHRP 350 Test Level 3.
- ET 2000-SYTP
- MSKT-350
- SRT-350
Crash Cushions
TRACC Family of Crash Attenuation Cushions
TRACC crash cushions are a non-gating, re-directive, bi-directional, energy-absorbing crash cushions designed to absorb direct collisions. TRACC crash cushions meet the requirements of NCHRP 350 Test Level 3 and are suitable for all posted speed limits.
Heart Crash Cushions
HEART™ crash cushions are non-gating, re-directive crash cushions that feature High-Molecular Weight/High-Density Polyethylene (HMW/HDPE) side panels and a rounded frontal nose piece for maximum energy absorption and deflection during impact. HEART™ crash cushions meet the requirements of CHRP Report 350 Test Level 3.
Convex and Concave Guardrail
Rail sections to be installed on curves having a radius of 5 feet to 150 feet can be curved in our fabricating facilities prior to delivery.
The rail can be curved either convex or concave as required. Terms convex or concave refer to the direction curved, inward or outward, relative to the traffic face of the rail. Radius Guardrail is available in convex or concave 12”x6 configurations.
How to find the radius for a curved rail: download PDF version of the Radius Finder Chart.
25' Galvanized Steel W-Beam Guardrail
- Optimal choice for safety, strength, durability, and cost-effectiveness
- Constructed of high-strength 12-gauge (Class A) or 10-gauge (Class B) steel and coated in rust-resistant zinc
- Standard center punching of 12' 6" O.C., 6' 3" O.C., with options available
12'-6" Galvanized Steel W-Beam Guardrail
- Optimal choice for safety, strength, durability, and cost-effectiveness
- Constructed of high-strength 12-gauge (Class A) or 10-gauge (Class B) steel and coated in rust-resistant zinc
- Standard center punching of 12' 6" O.C., 6' 3" O.C., with options available
6' Galvanized Steel Post
- Optimal choice for safety, strength, durability, and cost-effectiveness
- Beams are W6 x 8.5 PD and coated in rust-resistant zinc
Galvanized Steel Flared End
- Constructed of high-strength 10-gauge (Class B) steel and coated in rust-resistant zinc
- Protective option for the blunt end of the guardrail
Galvanized Steel Question Mark End
- Constructed of high-strength 10-gauge (Class B) steel and coated in rust-resistant zinc
- Protective option for the blunt end of the guardrail
Wood Block
- Constructed with #1 S45 Southern Pine and preservative-treated in accordance with American Wood Preservers Association
- Standard size of 6"x8"x14" is routed to fit standard steel posts
- Either wood or rubber block must be used on state and federal highway jobs
Rubber Block | Plastic Blocks
- Recycled polyethylene is one of the toughest polymers available on the market today
- Product is made from recycled plastic; good for the environment
- Standard 6"x8"x14" will fit a standard 6' post
- Either rubber or wood blocks must be used on state and federal jobs