BREAKAWAY OVERHEAD SIGN BRIDGES, CRASH TESTING

TEN VEHICLE CRASH TESTS ON AN OVERHEAD SIGN BRIDGE WERE DESCRIBED. THE PURPOSE WAS TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF LARGE BREAKAWAY SUPPORTS FOR THESE BRIDGES. THE BEHAVIOR OF THE OVERHEAD SIGN BRIDGE WHEN SUBJECTED TO VEHICLE IMPACT LOADS ALSO WAS DETERMINED. THE VEHICLES RANGED IN WEIGHT FROM 2,100 TO 5,170 LB. IMPACT SPEEDS RANGED FROM 25.7 TO 75.3 MPH. THESE TESTS INDICATE THAT THE BREAKAWAY SAFETY FEATURES OF THE OVERHEAD SIGN BRIDGE WILL GREATLY REDUCE THE FORCES ON IMPACTING VEHICLES. /AUTHOR/