STATE OF TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OFFICE SUITE 700, JAMES K. POLK BUILDING 505 DEADERICK STREET NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37243-1402 JOHN C. SCHROER (615) 741-2848 BILL HASLAM COMMISSIONER GOVERNOR April 4, 2017 Ms. Pamela K. Kordenbrock Division Administrator Federal Highway Administration-Tennessee 404 BNA Drive, Suite 508 Nashville, Tennessee 37217 Re: Lindsey Transportation Solutions X?Lite End Terminal Dear Ms. Kordenbrock: The purpose of this correspondence is to inform the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) of recent issues that the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has experienced with the above referenced energy absorbing tangential guardrail end terminal. As you know, FHWA issued a letter of eligibility for the X-Lite Flared Terminal and X-Lite Tangent Terminal on September 7, 2011, thus these products had been properly evaluated by TL-3 evaluation criteria. As stated in the letter from Michael S. Grif?th, FHWA Safety Of?ce, ?Both systems described above and detailed in the enclosed drawings are acceptable for use on the NHS under the range of conditions tested. Subsequent modi?cations of the end terminals led to additional approvals by FHWA dated March 29, 2013 and January 28, 2014. As a result of the acceptance letters, the X?Lite terminals were added to Quali?ed Product List (QPL) in June, 2013. In June, 2016, ?eld staff expressed concerns to our Headquarters Construction Division regarding installations of X-Lite terminals involving two (2) crashes resulting in three (3) fatalities where the guardrail penetrated the vehicle cabin. Between July and October, 2016, TDOT staff conducted ?eld inspections and had discussions with Lindsey Transportation Solutions executives and staff several times attempting to clarify guardrail end terminal installation details. Lindsey Transportation Solutions was unable to resolve our concerns regarding a lack of bolt torque speci?cations in their installation instructions. We note that in September 9, 2011 acceptance letter regarding the X-Lite Terminal, under the standard provisions of acceptance, that ?the manufacturer is expected to supply potential users with suf?cient information on design and installation requirements to ensure proper performance.? Ms. Pamela Kordenbrock April 4, 2017 Page 2 TDOT concluded that unclear instructions may cause installation de?ciencies, which could result in the terminal performing differently from the original tested conditions. As a result of unclear installation instructions, and migration to the 2016 edition of Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH), the X-Lite (TX) Terminal was removed from QPL on October 25, 2016. Additionally, our experience with the X-Lite Terminals has revealed in-service performance that we believe does not provide adequate protection of motorists on our network of roads. Our concern is based on crashes where we have observed the impact head of the unit separating horizontally from the adjacent w-beam guardrail, sliding past this adjacent section of w-beam which then could and has penetrated a vehicle cabin. Since the end terminal was removed from our QPL, two (2) additional crashes resulting in fatalities and other non-fatality crashes have prompted TDOT to take ?lrther action. We have made the decision to remove installed X-Lite (TX) terminals from the state highway systems through contracts in our March 31, 2017 bid letting. In September 9, 2011 acceptance letter regarding the X-Lite Terminal, under the standard provisions of acceptance, it is noted that ?if in-service performance reveals unacceptable safety problems that FHWA reserves its rights to modify or revoke acceptance.? It is also our understanding that the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) removed the Lindsey Transportation Solutions X-Lite End Terminals from their Approved Products List on September 1, 2016. While Tennessee will soon see these products removed from the state highway system, in light of these circumstances, I believe it appropriate to notify FHWA of our inability to receive satisfactory installation information from the manufacturer and that in-service performance of this device is resulting in unacceptable safety levels for the Department. We are available to provide additional information with regard to these concerns should you request them. Sincerely, John C. Schroer Commissioner Ms. Pamela Kordenbrock April 4, 2017 Page 3 cc: Mr. Paul D. Degges, P.E., Deputy Commissioner/Chief Engineer Mr. John Reinbold, Legal Counsel Mr. Jeff C. Jones, P.E, Assistant Chief Engineer-Design Mr. Chuck Rychen, Assistant Chief Engineer-Operations Mr. Will Reid, P.E., Director of Construction Assistant Chief Engineers/ Regional Directors Mr. Bud Wright AASHTO