Midwest Guardrail System

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 2001-2002, 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. 

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