Blumenthal requests investigation into guardrails

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) demanded that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) quickly investigate potentially dangerous guardrails to protect drivers.

Blumenthal wrote to FHWA acting administrator Gregory Nadeau on Tuesday. He said the FHWA allowed Trinity Highway Products’ ET-Plus guardrails to be installed along highways nationwide, despite warnings that the product could be defective.

{mosads}“FHWA must expedite its investigation into the safety of this product and act immediately to protect motorists if this product is indeed found to be unsafe,” Blumenthal said. “FHWA is responsible for preventing harm before defective products are installed on our roads.”

Blumenthal also called on FHWA to explain the approval process for the guardrails, which were installed on highways after evidence of fraud was presented to federal regulators. He said FHWA could “share the blame” if they allowed a defective guardrail to be installed.

“Widespread use of these potentially dangerous guardrails was on FHWA’s watch, and I demand to know why FHWA allowed it — perhaps even encouraged it,” Blumenthal said. “FHWA must explain immediately why it delayed for years to take action to investigate the device — even after evidence of fraud was made apparent in 2012.”

Blumenthal made his comments after a jury in federal court in Texas found Trinity Highway Products committed fraud by failing to notify officials that its guardrail design had changed, possibly affecting safety elements.