Development and Practical Use of a Wire Rope Guardrail System for Two-lane Roads in Japan

Fatal high-speed head-on collisions often occur in limited spaces on two-lane roads without median strips. While the installation of such strips is permitted under the Road Construction Ordinance, their provision to date has been limited due to the high associated costs. Wire rope guardrail systems, which can be seen as an alternative to median strips, involve the use of thin posts, have a buffering function and require minimal width. The purpose of this study was to develop a wire rope guardrail system with a buffering function as a separator for two-lane roads. CG simulation and collision experiments using real vehicles were conducted to determine the characteristics of the fence, and performance tests were conducted in accordance with guard fence installation criteria. As a result, a wire rope guardrail system that satisfies Japan’s Am performance standard criteria for expressway median strips was developed.