Ideal Fencing Corp — A RoadGuard Company
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Guardrail

MASH-compliant guardrail systems installed by DOT-approved crews across 13 states. From W-beam highway guardrail to bridge rail and impact attenuators, Ideal Fencing Corp delivers crash-tested roadside safety infrastructure on schedule and to specification. With Adarand Constructors bringing 40+ years of CDOT-approved guardrail expertise in Colorado and RailCo LLC providing specification-driven guardrail installation across Idaho and the Northwest, we maintain local crews, equipment yards, and material inventory for full regional dispatch — no matter where your project is.

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Our Guardrail Services

W-Beam Guardrail

MASH and NCHRP 350 compliant W-beam guardrail for highways, interchanges, and roadside hazard protection.

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High-Tension Cable Barrier

Median cable barrier systems for divided highways that prevent cross-median crashes at a fraction of the cost of rigid barrier systems.

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Box Beam Guardrail

Heavy-duty box beam guardrail for bridge approaches, high-risk curves, and locations requiring increased structural capacity.

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Impact Attenuators

MASH-tested crash cushions, sand barrels, and water-filled attenuators for highway gore areas, bridge piers, and fixed hazards.

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Bridge Rail

Concrete and steel bridge railing systems, retrofit upgrades, and bridge-to-guardrail transitions for DOT bridge projects.

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How We Work

01

Consultation

We review project plans, DOT specifications, and site conditions. Our team provides unit pricing aligned with DOT bid item formats for transparent comparison.

02

Custom Design

Our engineering team verifies material certifications, designs end terminal configurations, and produces guardrail-to-bridge rail transition details per state DOT standards.

03

Professional Installation

Company-owned post drivers and rail setting equipment. 800-4,000 feet per day production rates with complete as-built documentation for DOT acceptance.

Industries We Serve

Government & DOTGeneral ContractorsEngineering FirmsMunicipalities

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Get a free, no-obligation quote from our team of commercial fencing and guardrail experts.

Request a Free Quote(303) 219-3166

Frequently Asked Questions

MASH (Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware) is the current AASHTO standard for crash testing roadside safety devices. As of 2024, all new guardrail installations on federal-aid highways must use MASH-tested hardware. MASH TL-3 tests evaluate performance at 62 mph impact speeds. Non-compliant hardware is no longer eligible for federal reimbursement on new installations.

Standard W-beam guardrail installation ranges from $22 to $45 per linear foot depending on post driving conditions, terrain, traffic control requirements, and state specifications. End terminals add $2,500 to $6,500 per unit. We provide unit pricing that aligns with DOT bid item structures for direct comparison with engineer estimates.

Studies by multiple state DOTs show cable barrier prevents 95 to 97 percent of vehicles from crossing the median. WSDOT, which has one of the largest cable barrier programs in the country, documented a 63 percent reduction in cross-median fatalities within 5 years of installation on I-5 and I-90 corridors.

High-tension cable barrier costs $12 to $28 per linear foot installed, versus $22 to $45 per linear foot for W-beam guardrail. This significant cost savings allows DOTs to protect more highway miles within the same budget. End anchors add $3,500 to $8,000 per unit.

Box beam is specified where deflection space behind the guardrail is limited — typically at bridge approaches, sharp curves, high-fill embankments, and tunnel portals. Standard W-beam deflects 3 to 6 feet on impact, while box beam deflects 2 to 4 feet. Box beam also provides higher containment levels for locations with heavy truck traffic.

Box beam guardrail ranges from $45 to $85 per linear foot compared to $22 to $45 for standard W-beam. The premium reflects heavier materials, tighter installation tolerances, and the engineering required for bridge approach applications. Box beam is only specified where its higher performance justifies the additional cost.

An impact attenuator (also called a crash cushion) is an energy-absorbing safety device installed in front of fixed highway hazards — bridge piers, concrete barrier ends, sign supports, and gore points. It decelerates a vehicle in a controlled manner during a head-on impact and may also redirect vehicles that strike the side, reducing crash severity from potentially fatal to survivable.

Pricing varies by system type. Sand barrel arrays cost $5,000 to $12,000 per installation. Redirective crash cushions (REACT, QuadGuard, TAU-II) range from $15,000 to $45,000 per unit. Work zone water-filled attenuators run $3,000 to $8,000. Selection depends on speed rating, site geometry, and state DOT approved products list.

Bridge rail is a structural element integrated into the bridge deck that must contain vehicles while preserving the bridge structure. Highway guardrail is a semi-flexible system that absorbs energy through rail deformation and post deflection. Bridge rail is tested to higher containment levels (TL-4 or TL-5 vs. TL-3 for highway guardrail) because there is no room for deflection on a bridge deck.

Bridge rails may need upgrades when they do not meet current MASH crash testing standards, when they have sustained structural damage, or when the bridge is being rehabilitated or widened. Federal-aid bridge projects typically require rail upgrades as part of the overall rehabilitation scope. State bridge inspection programs identify rails that do not meet current performance standards.